The recent death of a duck in the Mueller Lake area of Austin, Texas, has ignited significant concern among local residents regarding the presence of autonomous vehicles in their neighborhood.
This incident, involving an Avride self-driving car operating in autonomous mode, has drawn attention after a resident reported that the vehicle ran over the duck without stopping. The post in a neighborhood Facebook group described the vehicle as having "steamrolled through" without hesitation.
Residents were particularly upset as the duck was known to many in the community, having nested in a pot outside a local Italian restaurant. To protect the duck's eggs, some residents have taken them to incubators.
Avride confirmed that the vehicle was in autonomous mode during the incident but has not halted its testing on public roads. However, the company has adjusted its operational area to exclude streets near the lake where the incident occurred, as stated by spokesperson Yulia Shveyko.
Additionally, a claim was made that the vehicle failed to stop at a stop sign, but Avride reported no evidence supporting this assertion, stating that the vehicle made appropriate stops at all relevant signs.
In light of the incident, Avride has reviewed the vehicle's data and behavior, simulating the scene multiple times to identify potential improvements that could prevent similar occurrences in the future. This includes conducting controlled experiments to ensure that any changes do not compromise the vehicle's safety in other scenarios.
Austin is home to several companies testing autonomous vehicles, including Zoox, Tesla, and Waymo, which operate commercial robotaxi services in parts of the city.
