22E072 – Software May Cause Improper ADS Response – Cruise Automated Driving Systems (ADS)

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Equipment Recall Report
ion 573.6) Manufacturer Name: Cruise LLC Submission Date: Aug. 26, 2022 NHTSA Recall No: Manufacturer Recall No: 2022.05.13.00 Manufacturer Information Manufacturer Name: Cruise LLC
Address: 333 Brannan St., San Francisco, CA
Company phone: 415-335-4097 Population
Number of potentially involved: 80
Estimated percentage with defect: 100
Equipment Information
Brand/Trade 1: Cruise LLC
Model: Cruise ADS software release Delta/2022.05.13.00
Part No: N/A Size: N/A Function: N/A
Descriptive Information: The subject population includes Cruise Automated Driving Systems (“ADS”) with software release Delta/2022.05.13.00. At the time of the incident described in the chronology, this totaled 80 ADS units, determined through a review of software release records. Production Dates:
Begin: May 13, 2022
End: July 5, 2022 Description of the Defect
Description of the Defect: In a rare circumstance described below, a safety feature in the prior version of the subject ADS, known as the reflexive planner, caused the AV to hard brake while performing an unprotected left turn (“UPL”) when the ADS determined a hard brake was necessary to avoid a severe front-end collision with an oncoming vehicle or other road use.
Cruise has decided to submit this voluntary report in the interest of transparency to the public and based on its discussions with NHTSA. Only one such incident has occurred in over 123,560 driverless UPLs performed prior to the updated software release. The incident involved an oncoming vehicle traveling well above the speed limit in a restricted right-turn/bus-only lane as the Cruise AV was performing a UPL. As the Cruise AV turned left and began traversing the
intersection, the Cruise AV predicted that the oncoming vehicle, which was traveling approximately 40 mph in the 25 mph right-turn lane, would turn right and directly into the path of the Cruise AV. After the Cruise AV braked to avoid colliding with the front end of the oncoming vehicle, the oncoming vehicle suddenly moved out of the right-turn lane and proceeded straight through the intersection colliding with the rear right quarter panel of the Cruise AV. Cruise has determined that in this unique UPL situation, the ADS had to decide between two different risk scenarios and chose the one with the least potential for a serious collision at the time, before the oncoming vehicle’s sudden change of direction. Cruise has determined this scenario would not recur after a software update installed on all affected vehicles on July 6, 2022. Description of the Safety Risk: In the rare circumstances described above, a Cruise AV with the subject ADS version may, when making a UPL, not have correctly predicted nor was been sufficiently reactive to the sudden path change of a road user violating demarcated lane usage and operating at excessive speed, which could increase the risk of a crash. Chronology: On June 3, 2022, a Cruise AV, operating in driverless mode, was involved in a collision with another vehicle. The next day, Cruise reported the incident to NHTSA in accordance with NHTSA’s Standing General Order. Cruise also immediately began an investigation of the crash. As part of its investigation, Cruise obtained the police report of this crash. The police report found, among other things, the “party at most fault” for the collision was the other vehicle, which was “traveling in the … right turn only lane at a speed that was greater than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for the safety of others on the roadway.” However, in an abundance of caution and in accordance with its safety practices and policies, Cruise implemented certain mitigation measures, including disabling unprotected left turns from the fleet, and reducing the ODD to a smaller geofence. Since releasing the new software update on July 6, 2022, Cruise has gradually reintroduced UPLs in its fleet. During its investigation, Cruise met with NHTSA multiple times, providing updates and analyses of the subject crash and the ADS behavior, as well as explanations of next steps and mitigation measures, as noted above. Cruise presented information to NHTSA that, during the incident, Cruise AV’s reflexive planner feature recognized a front-end collision risk created by a speeding vehicle, which reasonably indicated that it would take a right because it was in the right hand turn lane. The Cruise AV stopped to avoid the collision risk and create a path for the other vehicle. The Cruise AV had to decide between two different risk scenarios and chose the one with the least potential for a serious collision. NHTSA suggested that the appropriate mechanism for disseminating this information to the public was for Cruise to file this 573 equipment recall notice. In deference to the agency’s position and in hopes of adding transparency to the public’s understanding of the events related to this singular incident, Cruise agreed to file this report. Description of the Remedy Description of the remedy program: As part of the normal course of Cruise’s continuous
improvement and release process, on July 6, 2022, Cruise released a new software update that, among other things, improves the ADS’s predictive performance in various ways, including conditions similar to the singular, exceptional event that is the subject of this filing. Cruise has determined that the ADS would have selected a different path that averted the collision. How remedy component differs from recalled components: The updated software is a new release. Identify how/when recall condition was corrected in production: The prior ADS software installed in vehicles was updated to the newer software release. Recall Schedule
Description of the Recall Schedule: Cruise AVs have never been offered for sale to third parties and are solely owned by Cruise or GM. As such, there are no owners or dealers to notify under 49 C.F.R. Parts 573 or 577 and part 577 is therefore inapplicable.
Planned Dealer Notification Date: N/A
Planned Owner Notification Date: N/A
Purchaser Information
Name: N/A Address: N/A Country: N/A
Company Phone: N/A Cruise Representative Hannah Lindow
Communications Manager

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OMB Control No.: 2127-0004
Part 573 Safety Recall Report 22E-072
The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573
Manufacturer Name : Submission Date :
Cruise LLC AUG 29, 2022 NHTSA Recall No. : 22E-072 Manufacturer Recall No. : 2022.05.13.00 Manufacturer Information :
Manufacturer Name : Cruise LLC
Address : 333 Brannan
San Francisco CA 94107 Company phone : 415-335-4097
Population :
Number of potentially involved : 80 Estimated percentage with defect : 100 %
Equipment Information : Brand / Trade 1 :
Model : Cruise LLC
Cruise ADS software release Delta/2022.05.13.00 Part No. : N/A Size : N/A Function : N/A
Descriptive Information : The subject population includes Cruise Automated Driving Systems (“ADS”) with software release Delta/2022.05.13.00. At the time of the incident described in the chronology, this totaled 80 ADS units, determined through a review of software release records. Production Dates : MAY 13, 2022 – JUL 05, 2022 Part 573 Safety Recall Report 22E-072 Page 2 Description of Defect :
Description of the Defect : In a rare circumstance described below, a safety feature in the prior version of the subject ADS, known as the reflexive planner, caused the AV to hard brake while performing an unprotected left turn (“UPL”) when the ADS determined a hard brake was necessary to avoid a severe front-end collision with an oncoming vehicle or other road use. Cruise has decided to submit this voluntary report in the interest of transparency to the public and based on its discussions with NHTSA. Only one such incident has occurred in over 123,560 driverless UPLs performed prior to the updated software release. The incident involved an oncoming vehicle traveling well above the speed limit in a restricted right-turn/bus-only lane as the Cruise AV was performing a UPL. As the Cruise AV turned left and began traversing the intersection, the Cruise AV predicted that the oncoming vehicle, which was traveling approximately 40 mph in the 25 mph right-turn lane, would turn right and directly into the path of the Cruise AV. After the Cruise AV braked to avoid colliding with the front end of the oncoming vehicle, the oncoming vehicle suddenly moved out of the right-turn lane and proceeded straight through the intersection colliding with the rear right quarter panel of the Cruise AV. Cruise has determined that in this unique UPL situation, the ADS had to decide between two different risk scenarios and chose the one with the least potential for a serious collision at the time, before the oncoming vehicle’s sudden change of direction. Cruise has determined this scenario would not recur after a software update installed on all affected vehicles on July 6, 2022.
FMVSS 1 : NR FMVSS 2 : NR
Description of the Safety Risk : In the rare circumstances described above, a Cruise AV with the subject ADS version may, when making a UPL, not have correctly predicted nor was been sufficiently reactive to the sudden path change of a road user violating demarcated lane usage and operating at excessive speed, which could increase the risk of a crash.
Description of the Cause : NR Identification of Any Warning NR
that can Occur : Involved Components : Component Name : NR Component Description : NR Component Part Number : NR The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Part 573 Safety Recall Report 22E-072 Page 3 Supplier Identification : Component Manufacturer
Name : Cruise LLC
Address : 333 Brannan Street
San Francisco California 94107 Country : United States Chronology :
On June 3, 2022, a Cruise AV, operating in driverless mode, was involved in a collision with another vehicle. The next day, Cruise reported the incident to NHTSA in accordance with NHTSA’s Standing General Order. Cruise also immediately began an investigation of the crash. As part of its investigation, Cruise obtained the police report of this crash. The police report found, among other things, the “party at most fault” for the collision was the other vehicle, which was “traveling in the … right turn only lane at a speed that was greater than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for the safety of others on the roadway.” However, in an abundance of caution and in accordance with its safety practices and policies, Cruise implemented certain mitigation measures, including disabling unprotected left turns from the fleet, and reducing the ODD to a smaller geofence. Since releasing the new software update on July 6, 2022, Cruise has gradually reintroduced UPLs in its fleet. During its investigation, Cruise met with NHTSA multiple times, providing updates and analyses of the subject crash and the ADS behavior, as well as explanations of next steps and mitigation measures, as noted above. Cruise presented information to NHTSA that, during the incident, Cruise AV’s reflexive planner feature recognized a front-end collision risk created by a speeding vehicle, which reasonably indicated that it would take a right because it was in the right hand turn lane. The Cruise AV stopped to avoid the collision risk and create a path for the other vehicle. The Cruise AV had to decide between two different risk scenarios and chose the one with the least potential for a serious collision. [continued on attached report] Description of Remedy :
Description of Remedy Program : As part of the normal course of Cruise’s continuous improvement and
release process, on July 6, 2022, Cruise released a new software update that, among other things, improves the ADS’s predictive performance in various ways, including conditions similar to the singular, exceptional event that is the subject of this filing. Cruise has determined that the ADS would have selected a different path that averted the collision. How Remedy Component Differs from Recalled Component :
Identify How/When Recall Condition was Corrected in Production : The updated software is a new release. The prior ADS software installed in vehicles was updated to the newer software release. The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Part 573 Safety Recall Report 22E-072
Page 4
The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573
Recall Schedule :
Description of Recall Schedule : Cruise AVs have never been offered for sale to third parties and are solely
owned by Cruise or GM. As such, there are no owners or dealers to notify under 49 C.F.R. Parts 573 or 577 and part 577 is therefore inapplicable.
Planned Dealer Notification Date : NR – NR Planned Owner Notification Date : NR – NR Purchaser Information :
The following manufacturers purchased this defective/noncompliant equipment for possible use or installation in new motor vehicles or new items of motor vehicle equipment:
Name : NR Address : NR
NR Country : NR Company Phone : NR
* NR – Not Reported

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