Waymo Robotaxi Collides With Serve Robotics Delivery Bot in Los Angeles
A Waymo robotaxi collided with a Serve Robotics delivery robot at an intersection in West Hollywood, Los Angeles on December 27, with the Waymo traveling at 4 miles per hour at impact. Neither vehicle was damaged and no passengers were aboard the Waymo, raising questions about how autonomous vehicles interact with other autonomous systems.
What happened
On December 27, a Waymo robotaxi and a Serve Robotics sidewalk delivery robot collided at an intersection in West Hollywood, Los Angeles, according to video footage circulating on social media.
The Serve robot was crossing a street at night and backing up to correct itself when a Waymo robotaxi making a right turn struck it. The Waymo Driver applied hard braking before making contact with the delivery robot at 4 miles per hour.
Reported impact
Neither autonomous vehicle was damaged in the collision, and they remained in contact for about a minute before separating. There was no passenger inside the Waymo robotaxi at the time of the incident.
Index analysis
The Waymo Driver system correctly classified the delivery robot as an inanimate object, which Waymo stated is by design. However, questions have been raised about how autonomous vehicles interact with and perceive delivery robots and other autonomous systems on public roads.
Governance controls
When a collision occurs, the Waymo Driver notifies Waymo's Fleet Response and Rider Support teams. The Fleet Response team reviews the scene remotely and dispatches roadside assistance if needed, while the Rider Support team checks rider status and contacts first responders if appropriate.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.