NTSB: Uber’s AV in fatal crash ‘had software issues’

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has found that an Uber autonomous vehicle which killed Elaine Herzberg last year had software flaws. NTSB released a report which says the Volvo XC60’s autonomous system software classified the pedestrian as an unknown object and determined that an emergency braking manoeuvre was needed to mitigate the collision. Uber confirmed that emergency braking manoeuvres must be carried out manually and the system is not designed to alert the driver. Data
November 6, 2019 Read time: 2 mins

The US 5628 National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has found that an 8336 Uber autonomous vehicle which %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external killed false https://www.itsinternational.com/categories/utc/news/uber-ends-self-driving-programme-in-arizona/ false false%> Elaine Herzberg last year had software flaws.

NTSB released a %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external report false https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms/search/hitlist.cfm?docketID=62978&amp;CurrentPage=2&amp;EndRow=30&amp;StartRow=16&amp;order=1&amp;sort=0&amp;TXTSEARCHT= false false%> which says the 609 Volvo XC60’s autonomous system software classified the pedestrian as an unknown object and determined that an emergency braking manoeuvre was needed to mitigate the collision.

Uber confirmed that emergency braking manoeuvres must be carried out manually and the system is not designed to alert the driver.

Data retrieved from the autonomous system revealed that the vehicle operator engaged the steering wheel less than a second before impact while the vehicle was travelling at 39mph.

The NTSB reviewed Uber’s autonomous system cameras which revealed that Herzberg did not look in the direction of the vehicle just before impact.

An inward-facing video showed the vehicle operator glancing down toward the centre of the vehicle several times before the crash. A post-crash interview with NTSB investigators revealed that she was monitoring the autonomous system’s interface.

The NTSB is working with Uber, Volvo Cars and the 6576 Arizona Department of Transportation to compile a complete account of the crash.

Uber is not the only company whose AV trials have led to a fatality. Last year, a Tesla vehicle operating in %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external autopilot false https://www.itsinternational.com/categories/utc/news/tesla-car-crash-in-california-kills-driver-while-running-on-autopilot/ false false%> in California caught fire after crashing into a roadside barrier that killed the driver. 

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • 2019 ‘won’t be the year of blockchain’, says Fujitsu
    February 6, 2019
    Blockchain technology will not break through into the mainstream of the British transportation sector during 2019, according to Fujitsu. Blockchain has been touted as the solution to a number of transportation issues, but Chris Patton from Fujitsu’s EMEIA transport team urges caution. While acknowledging that the technology holds ‘exciting’ operational and commercial potential for the public transport sector, he says: “The key word there, though, is potential. While it is undeniable blockchain will ma
    Read More
  • SMA launches urban barrier safety cover
    March 21, 2018
    Safety-aware motorcyclists will welcome the newest addition to urban barrier protection devices from Italian manufacturer SMA. The company’s reflective aluminium safety cover for its SMA 50 City short barrier was launched this year and can be a life-saver, said Stefano Caterino, head of marketing. Instead of a motorcyclist or cyclist hitting the barrier end, the person stands a better chance of glancing off at an angle and sustaining far fewer injuries than hitting the right angles of the barrier. It is
    Read More
  • MKM Mobilitas installs Tritium fast charger in Budapest
    November 20, 2018
    NKM Mobilitas has installed a Tritium liquid-cooled DC fast charger for electric vehicles (EV) at the Koki Terminál P+R, a parking facility in Budapest. NKM Mobilitas is a subsidiary of National Utilities, the state Hungarian provider which supplies gas and electricity to households in the country. Tritium’s Veefil-RT 50kW DC fast charger is expected to provide NKM Mobilitas’ customers with 125km of range in 30 minutes. The solution offers Chademo and CCS connectors as well as an interface and inte
    Read More
  • Webinar – Vulnerable road user safety: What's next?
    December 8, 2015
    The Ertico-ITS iMobility Forum is running a series of interactive webinars on the status and recommendations of the iMobilility Forum Working Groups. These webinars are dedicated to topics such as probe data, SafeApp, IRM and Automation. The next in this series of webinars is dedicated to the topic of vulnerable road users (VRU) and takes place on 10 December 2015 from 1100 to 1200 CET and will discuss topics including: VRU safety priorities and roadmap; Deployment opportunities and obstacles; End
    Read More

Highlighted Content