Abstract

This interdisciplinary symposium was structured to introduce the concepts of autonomous vehicles in the city. The symposium used architectural media including annotated drawings, photographs, chronology and animation to assist the discussion between communications, intelligent mobility and architecture researchers at the RCA about the relationship of humans, vehicles and the city. The symposium introduced the idea of an intimate evolution of vehicle design and urban design along with communications. This history is not well documented from a systemic point of view. The panel discussion agreed that an evolutionary tracking was a pathway of research that required further insights and development.

The issues of communications between actors and autonomous vehicles in the public realm also commenced, the panel suggested this as another interrelated avenue of research. A tutor’s review suggested that a social and cultural history of autonomous vehicles would further assist the development of the taxonomical research. Concepts such as planned obsolescence and the commercial requirements of vehicle manufacturers were also discussed. This revealed the consumptive behaviour inherent in the industry. Ideas about the city as a platform for intelligence emerged in the discussion.