A self-driving car in Texas hit and killed a mother duck, sparking neighborhood outrage

The demise of a duck within the Austin, Texas enclave of Mueller Lake has neighbors elevating considerations about autonomous automobiles and whether or not they belong there.

Whereas people are chargeable for killing animals with their automobiles on a regular basis, this incident has introduced unfavourable consideration to the brand new know-how. Native media picked up on the duck incident after a resident posted in a Mueller neighborhood Fb group that an Avride autonomous automobile (with a human security operator behind the wheel) ran over and killed a duck, and didn’t cease afterwards. “It didn’t decelerate or hesitate in any respect, simply steamrolled by way of,” the put up, which KXAN reported on, reads.

Residents’ familiarity with this specific duck, which was nesting in a pot situated exterior of a neighborhood Italian eatery, has added to the outrage and distrust of the autonomous automobile know-how. For these involved about the way forward for the duck’s eggs, native residents have them in an incubator, Axios’ Austin reports.

An Avride spokesperson confirmed with TechCrunch that the automobile was in autonomous mode on the time. Avride hasn’t paused testing on public roads altogether. Nevertheless, the corporate has adjusted its space of operations by excluding sure streets across the lake in Mueller neighborhood the place the incident with the duck occurred, in keeping with spokesperson Yulia Shveyko.

The resident additionally claimed of their put up that the automobile didn’t cease at a cease signal. Avride instructed TechCrunch it didn’t discover proof to assist that declare. The automobile got here to finish and acceptable stops in any respect related cease indicators.

Shveyko stated the crew has reviewed automobile knowledge and conduct, together with replaying the scene a number of instances in simulation. Avride is now evaluating potential enhancements to the know-how to assist keep away from comparable conditions sooner or later, she stated. Notably, this contains working a sequence of managed experiments in simulation to make sure that any modifications don’t negatively influence the automobile’s security efficiency in different eventualities.

Avride isn’t the one firm testing or business deploying autonomous automobiles within the metropolis. Zoox has been testing within the metropolis. Tesla and Waymo, in partnership with Uber, additionally function a business robotaxi service in elements of Austin.