First there were driverless cars. Now Norway has become the first country in the world to design a driverless ferry, in the hope it will end the need for expensive bridges over rivers and canals.

The first prototype is currently shuttling people and their bicycles back on forth on the waterways of Trondheim, in trials organised by The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NNTU).

Although the journey is just 320 feet and takes only 60 seconds, it saves pedestrians a 15 minute walk and designers are confident it could be used to join communities currently cut off by a lack of bridges.

Dubbed the ‘autoferry’ the little electric boat is fully autonomous, self propelled and fitted with sensors to avoid kayakers and other river traffic.