Baidu ride-hailing driverless car hits pedestrian crossing street
Occurred: July 2024
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A Baidu-operated driverless car in Wuhan, China, collided with a pedestrian crossing the street, prompting debate about the dangers of the car maker's autonomous driving technology.Β
What happened
A Baidu robotaxi struck a pedestrian who was reportedly crossing the street against the traffic signal. The vehicle began moving when the light turned green, resulting in minor contact with the individual.Β
Fortunately, the pedestrian did not sustain visible injuries and was taken to a hospital for examination.Β
People discussing the incident on social media largely supported Baidu, emphasising that the pedestrian was at fault for jaywalking.
Why it happened
The incident highlighted ongoing challenges faced by autonomous vehicles in navigating complex traffic scenarios, particularly when dealing with unpredictable human behaviour.
What it means
The incident raised questions about the effectiveness of Baidu's safety protocols and underscored the need for further advancements in AI systems to better handle real-world complexities.
Self-driving car
A self-driving car, also known as a autonomous car (AC), driverless car, robotaxi, robotic car or robo-car, is a car that is capable of operating with reduced or no human input.
Source: Wikipedia π
System π€
Baidu Apollo π
Operator: Apollo Go
Developer: Baidu; Kinglong
Country: China
Sector: Automotive
Purpose: Automate steering, acceleration, braking
Technology: Self-driving system; Computer vision; Machine learning
Issue: Accuracy/reliability; Safety
Page info
Type: Incident
Published: November 2024