The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recently released a preliminary report on its investigation of an autonomous Uber Technologies accident that killed a pedestrian in Tempe, Arizona, on March 18.
The vehicle, a modified 2017 Volvo XC90, was operating with its self-driving system in computer-control mode with one vehicle occupant. It struck the pedestrian who later died from injuries sustained.
The self-driving system on the SUV includes a computing and data storage unit, navigation sensors, radar, forward- and side-facing cameras, and Light Detection and Ranging. It also has several factory-equipped driver assistance functions that were disabled during the test.
The SUV was traveling 43 miles per hour and did not sense the pedestrian until six seconds before impact.
The pedestrian was dressed in dark clothing and had marijuana and methamphetamine in her system. She was pushing a bicycle and did not use the crosswalk. Instead, she entered the street from a brick median and did not look before entering the roadway. The bicycle’s headlamp and the front and rear reflectors were forward facing, and it did not have side reflectors.
The SUV did not determine emergency braking was necessary until 1.3 seconds before impact.
The preliminary report, which can be found on the NTSB website, does not state probable cause or analysis.