Reports in the United States suggest that the ultimate goal of the self-driving car project is to create a “robo-taxi” that picks up commuters on demand. Company executives believe that such a system could transform transport systems around the world, doing away with the need for most people to buy cars. They also believe that it would reduce the number of road accidents as well as having environmental benefits.
Automated taxis have long been the stuff of science fiction, such as the robot-operated “Johnny Cab” that featured in the 1990 blockbuster Total Recall.
