Driverless lorries could be rumbling along our roads within the next decade, engineers have predicted.
And boffins are working towards automating all road traffic, using laser-guidance and robots.
The claims were made as the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE) discussed the implications of using automated systems, which can make decisions and learn from their past performance, but which aren't hampered by emotional reactions.
The discussion follows an RAE report which found that fully robotic systems - be they freight transport, or even "artificial companions" to help out isolated people - could perform dull, risky or stressful" jobs better than humans.
The academy says that the transport benefits would include making roads less congested and more safe.
And the "ultimate vision" is for a totally automated road transport system, with vehicles guided by lasers, and robot taxis to ferry passengers to their destination - the first examples of which are already being tested Heathrow airport.
However, the RAE admitted that the automated systems could pose problems - such as working out whose fault it is if a driverless vehicle is involved in an accident.
Scientists are now calling for a discussion of new laws which would deal with the intelligent technology expected to emerge in the next few years.
Professor Will Stewart said that automated vehicles would be safer and more predictable on the motorway.
"One of the compelling arguments for them is that the machine can't have had an argument with his wife in the morning," he added.
"They won't jump out of their lane in front of people, and they won't kill you when they go to sleep."
