The self-driving Fiat 500 from PoliMi is coming to help seniors get around.

DARFO BOARIO TERME – A project combining technology, inclusion, and sustainability: it's called Sharing for Caring and is the first Italian prototype of autonomous mobility designed for the elderly or those with mobility impairments. It was developed by the Polytechnic University of Milan, through the AIDA (Artificial Intelligence Driving Autonomous) research group, as part of the National Center for Sustainable Mobility (MOST). The public demonstration took place on the streets of Darfo Boario Terme, in the Camonica Valley, where an electric 3+1 Fiat 500 completed a driverless urban journey, stopping to pick up a passenger and take them to the nearest pharmacy.

A simple, yet revolutionary gesture. Because behind that short journey lies a concrete idea: using autonomous driving to offer a low-speed service, accessible and replicable even in small Italian towns, where public transportation is scarce and the aging population requires new solutions. "In a demographic context where the average age is constantly rising, ensuring autonomy for those living in underserved areas is a priority," said Professor Sergio Savaresi, scientific director of the project. "Robo-Caring aims to be a concrete and sustainable response."

At the heart of the initiative is a Fiat 500 3+1, chosen for the ease of access guaranteed by the rear door facing the wind. It was equipped with an advanced autonomous driving system developed by the AIDA team and connected via a remote control system, thanks to the technological support of Cisco Italia. The test was conducted in the presence of a "safety driver," as required by the 2018 Smart Road Decree, but the car managed all phases of the journey autonomously.

The project—funded by the Ico Falck Foundation and the Milan Polytechnic Foundation—aims to offer a concrete alternative to private mobility, which is difficult for many seniors to maintain, and to fill the gap left by public services. It targets a growing number of citizens at risk of being excluded from social life due to a lack of independent transportation. Pharmacies, clinics, and supermarkets: these are the points of interest that Sharing for Caring aims to connect to the homes of vulnerable individuals, restoring their independence and security.

"Our population over 65 is growing rapidly, and the mountainous geography of municipalities like Darfo makes it essential to develop low-impact solutions with high social value," Mayor Dario Colossi emphasized. The Lombardy Region supported the initiative from the early stages, as Undersecretary Raffaele Cattaneo noted: "After the institutional mission to Indianapolis, we were able to see how advanced the Polytechnic's research in this field was. Today, Lombardy is among the global leaders in autonomous driving, and this encourages us to invest even more."

It's no coincidence that the 500 featured in the test is decorated with inspiration from the Japanese art of Kintsugi, the practice that celebrates cracks as part of an object's history. "Even fragilities can become resources, if handled with intelligence and sensitivity," explained Federico Falck, president of the Ico Falck Foundation. "Our goal is to develop mobility that takes into account all people, not just the most able-bodied."

The technological component was handled by Cisco Italia, which provided advanced connectivity solutions for remote vehicle monitoring. "To make autonomous driving work safely, a high-performance network is needed, capable of communicating in real time with on-board intelligent systems," explained CEO Gianmatteo Manghi. The result is a service that can function even without complex infrastructure, making the introduction of autonomous mobility sustainable in challenging environments.

"Accessibility is one of the great challenges of sustainable mobility," concluded Gianmarco Montanari, general director of the MOST Center. "With Sharing for Caring, we demonstrate that innovation can also be equitable: a technology that responds to real needs and can be replicated wherever it is needed."