The standard approach to detecting signal lights is to have a database of GPS positions of the signals, along with rough location in the camera where the signal is expected to occur [1]. Then, when the car nears the signal, it locates the signal and detects the current color.
This mechanism really shouldn't be susceptible to the same biases as humans. The described signal may legitimately be more challenging for the self driving car, but more than likely the signal was missing from Uber's database. Their lack of explanation for this failure does not inspire confidence in their approach.
This mechanism really shouldn't be susceptible to the same biases as humans. The described signal may legitimately be more challenging for the self driving car, but more than likely the signal was missing from Uber's database. Their lack of explanation for this failure does not inspire confidence in their approach.
[1] http://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs.cmu.edu/Web/People/zkolter/pubs...