Changing the pattern of mobility : another digital battle

Will the autonomous car of the future look anything like the way in which it is portrayed in science fiction films, namely a very comfortable sitting room or a mobile office, speeding along roads in complete safety? Some people thought this would be the case, but others, such as Google and Uber, are now imagining that it will be different. Abandoning the dream of a universal, driverless vehicle, they are working on less spectacular versions, but ones whose numerous advantages could hasten their implementation. The emergence of private or collective driverless robot taxis (also known as Personal Rapid Transit or podcars), limited to strictly defined environments, would be an ideal solution in cities which are saturated with passenger cars. These robot taxis would reduce problems (such as pollution and noise), lower the number of accidents, ease traffic flow, and encourage intermodal networks. Consequently, alongside already well-advanced technical solutions, the ability of politicians to reconsider urban space and mobility in a different way will play a key role in this radical transformation.