Waymo Robotaxi and Serve Delivery Robot Collide in Los Angeles

On December 27, 2024, a Waymo robotaxi and a Serve Robotics sidewalk delivery robot collided at an intersection in West Hollywood, Los Angeles. A video circulating on social media captured the moment, drawing attention to the unique challenges that autonomous vehicles (AVs) face on public roads.

Incident Details

Waymo robotaxi collides with Serve delivery robot in Los Angeles — Screenshot taken from video posted on Reddit. Image Credits:Reddit user

The video shows the Serve robot attempting to cross the street at night, moving towards the sidewalk ramp. As it backed up slightly to correct its movement, a Waymo robotaxi making a right turn collided with the delivery robot. The Serve bot was reportedly running a red light before the collision, though this is not confirmed in the video footage.

What Went Wrong?

Some viewers humorously commented on the incident, one even noting how Waymo’s computer system failed to recognize the bot in time, leading to the crash. The Waymo spokesperson, however, explained that the Waymo Driver system observed the delivery robot as an inanimate object and tried to adjust accordingly. The system prioritizes safety by adjusting the vehicle’s path, but in this case, it was unable to fully avoid the collision.

The Waymo Driver applied hard braking and made contact with the bot at only 4 miles per hour. Fortunately, neither vehicle sustained any significant damage, and both autonomous vehicles eventually separated after a brief entanglement.

The Liability Question

As autonomous vehicles and robots become more prevalent, the question arises: What happens when they collide? Who is responsible for damages in cases like these? While Waymo’s procedures involve immediate responses through its Fleet Response and Rider Support teams, the specifics of liability remain unclear. Serve Robotics, the company behind the delivery robot, confirmed that the bot was under remote supervisor control at the time of the collision, as per its standard protocol for intersection crossings.

How Companies Are Addressing This Issue

Both Waymo and Serve Robotics have worked together to understand the incident and prevent similar occurrences in the future. However, liability in the case of a collision involving autonomous machines remains a gray area. Both companies have not provided concrete answers regarding how they plan to handle such situations legally and financially.

Conclusion

This incident brings attention to the challenges that come with autonomous vehicles operating alongside delivery robots. As Waymo and Serve Robotics continue to explore safer and more efficient technologies, it will be interesting to see how such collisions are handled in the future and how companies navigate liability concerns.