Twenty years or so ago, robot cars were the stuff of imagination – ours, and some sci-fi authors’

Actually making a vehicle that could drive itself independently without human guidance, steered only by laser sensors and GPS, was not within the realms of the possible. Yet in 2009, thanks to our engineers’ expertise and the support of our partners, we set about achieving one of our ambitions: creating a self-driving vehicle – and, what’s more, an environmentally responsible one.

Three years on, Induct has made this wild dream come true by developing Cybergo, and our tried and tested know-how in geolocation and robotics has borne fruit. The shuttle now known as Navia is not only a huge technological innovation; it is also a response to the need for simpler, less costly transit solutions, one that opens the door to a great range of possibilities.

University campuses, hospitals, and visitor attractions are installing robotized vehicles as the means of getting around their private domains; but these vehicles are now opening up new and much broader prospects than those restricted spaces: why not use them to re-imagine the whole look and feel of our towns and cities? Why not design urban areas that are better suited to our habits and our transport needs?

Navia offers many answers to the questions society is having to ask about urban planning. Tomorrow, we hope, self-driving vehicles will be one of the preferred solutions not only for private firms but also for public organizations.