Naroa Coretti

Naroa Coretti is a Ph.D. student at the MIT City Science group whose work is transforming urban mobility by creating more sustainable transport modes. One of Coretti’s most notable contributions to the field of urban mobility is the MIT Autonomous Bicycle Project, which has captured global attention for its potential to revolutionize urban transportation. This shared, autonomous bicycle would operate as part of a mobility-on-demand service, offering a sustainable and convenient alternative to cars and other traditional modes of transportation in urban environments. The bicycle has a transformable rear-wheel mechanism with the bicycle configuration allowing users to ride it as a regular bike. Then, for autonomous driving, it transforms into a tricycle that has the necessary stability to drive by itself. When deployed as a fleet, users would request rides via a mobile app, an autonomous vehicle would drive to their location for pick-up, and users would ride it as a conventional bicycle to their destination. Through her research and academic contributions, Coretti has demonstrated that by adding autonomy, micro-mobility solutions could provide a service that is more efficient, convenient, and environmentally friendly. These new systems can transform urban mobility by offering a sustainable, seamless door-to-door service, reducing car dependency and fostering more thriving, vibrant, and human-centric cities.