Snooze off motorway blues with robot driver

The idea of Projet Symone is to have individual autonomous transporters at motorway aires to let drivers drive their car on to the low-loader and then relax while being carried to the next rest area to continue their trip.

Developed by a Dijon group, Symone combines the safety, environmental efficiency and free time of rail travel without the disadvantages of city centre stations, lack of car, less luggage and a fixed timetable.

The idea came after the four friends returned to Dijon from Marseille and faced a six-hour journey with fatigue, stress and a car breakdown.

Vinci Autoroutes has shown in­terest and Projet Symone will develop the idea before working with auto-builders in the run-up to autonomous cars becoming widespread in a decade.