On October 18, 2025, a wave of innovation is sweeping across continents as cities and law enforcement agencies embrace the promise—and the challenges—of autonomous vehicles. Genoa, Italy, and Miami-Dade County, Florida, stand at the forefront of this technological revolution, each piloting ambitious projects that could soon transform the way people travel and how communities are kept safe.
According to Il Secolo XIX, Genoa is preparing to launch a test of autonomous driving along a newly designated 10-kilometer smart road. This isn’t just any stretch of asphalt: the city plans to outfit the route with advanced sensors and 5G technology, laying the foundation for vehicles that communicate not only with one another but with the very infrastructure beneath their wheels. The initiative comes on the heels of an announcement in Brussels by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who revealed that no fewer than sixty Italian mayors have expressed keen interest in the project. For Genoa, the possibilities are tantalizing—city officials are weighing whether to use the iconic elevated roadway or the bustling Viale Brigate Partigiane as the testbed.
"We’re looking at options like the Sopraelevata [elevated road] and Viale Brigate Partigiane," said Merella, a municipal representative, underscoring the city’s commitment to finding the best possible route for this groundbreaking experiment. The goal? To create a real-world environment where autonomous vehicles can be put through their paces, navigating complex urban scenarios with the help of a digital nervous system embedded in the road itself.
While Genoa’s project is still in the planning stages, across the Atlantic, Miami-Dade County is already putting rubber to the road. As reported by The Drive, the county is currently testing a police autonomous vehicle with capabilities that sound like something out of a science fiction novel. Developed by PolicingLab—a center for law enforcement technology innovation—the Police Unmanned Ground Patrol Vehicle (PUG) is designed to be a force multiplier for local police.
This isn’t your average patrol car. The PUG boasts 360-degree cameras for all-around visibility, AI-powered analytics to process vast amounts of real-time data, license plate recognition systems, and even thermal imaging to spot suspects in the dark. But perhaps the most eye-catching feature is its integrated drone-launching platform. At the push of a button, officers can deploy a drone directly from the vehicle, sending it skyward to conduct surveillance missions or gather intelligence over a wider area.
PolicingLab’s vision for the PUG is clear: "The idea behind the vehicle is to expand available resources, improve efficiency, and enhance community safety," the organization explained. It’s a bold experiment, but for now, it remains a pilot program. Over the next year, Miami-Dade officials will closely monitor the vehicle’s impact, tracking improvements in response times, deterrence of crime, officer safety, and—crucially—public trust. Should the results prove positive, the initiative could be extended and potentially serve as a blueprint for police departments nationwide.
According to The Drive, the PUG brings together the autonomous vehicle technology of Perrone Robotics with PolicingLab’s expertise in law enforcement analytics. The vehicle’s suite of sensors, including its thermal camera and 360-degree vision, allows it to gather and process information that would be impossible for a human officer to match. Meanwhile, the AI analytics platform ensures that the data is not just collected but interpreted in real time, providing actionable insights to officers on the ground.
The integration of drone technology is particularly significant. With the ability to launch a drone directly from the vehicle, officers can quickly gain a bird’s-eye view of a situation—a capability that could prove invaluable during pursuits, search-and-rescue operations, or crowd monitoring at large events. The drone’s surveillance feed, combined with the vehicle’s other sensors, creates a comprehensive picture of the environment, enhancing situational awareness and enabling smarter decision-making.
Back in Genoa, the focus is on creating a public infrastructure that can support not just police vehicles, but a future where autonomous taxis, buses, and private cars share the road. The city’s plan to embed sensors and 5G connectivity into the test route is a crucial step toward this vision. These smart roads will allow vehicles to receive real-time updates about traffic, hazards, and other conditions, making autonomous driving safer and more efficient.
President von der Leyen’s announcement in Brussels highlights the growing momentum behind such projects across Italy. The fact that sixty mayors have signaled their interest suggests a nationwide appetite for innovation. For Genoa, being among the first to take the plunge could bring significant benefits—not just in terms of prestige, but in attracting investment and talent to the region.
Yet, these advances are not without their challenges. Implementing a 10-kilometer smart road will require significant investment in infrastructure, coordination with telecom providers for 5G coverage, and careful consideration of public safety. City officials, including Merella, are acutely aware that the project’s success will depend on rigorous testing and community engagement. If all goes well, Genoa could become a model for other European cities looking to modernize their transportation networks.
Meanwhile, the Miami-Dade PUG pilot underscores a different facet of the autonomous revolution: the potential to reshape public safety. By leveraging AI, robotics, and drone technology, law enforcement agencies hope to respond more quickly to incidents, deter crime more effectively, and keep both officers and civilians safer. As PolicingLab emphasized, the pilot will assess not just technical performance but also the impact on public trust—a reminder that technology alone cannot solve all challenges, and that community buy-in remains essential.
Both Genoa and Miami-Dade’s initiatives are part of a broader global trend toward smart mobility and autonomous systems. Around the world, cities are experimenting with self-driving buses, delivery robots, and AI-powered traffic management in a bid to reduce congestion, cut emissions, and improve quality of life. These pilot programs, while small in scale for now, could pave the way for a future where autonomous vehicles are a common sight on city streets.
As the year-long trials progress, all eyes will be on the data: Will Genoa’s smart road prove safe and reliable enough for everyday use? Can Miami-Dade’s PUG demonstrate real gains in efficiency and public safety? The answers to these questions could shape urban mobility and policing for decades to come.
For now, Genoa and Miami-Dade are taking bold steps into uncharted territory—testing not just new technologies, but new ideas about how cities and communities can work smarter, safer, and more connected than ever before.
