Auto-cycle

Climate change. 

Roughly 1/4 of CO2 emissions stem from our daily consumption of unsustainable energy for driving cars, taking metros, etc. 

Cycling infrastructure is improved annually in many countries as it is expected to be the best alternative to unsustainable vehicles. However, physical limitations can hinder people from switching to cycling. According to a study in the Netherlands, as we age or have a disability, our ability to cycle decreases. In the United States, the adult population, which accounts for 13% of the total population, only makes up an average of 6% of cycling trips. In England and London, the highest percentage of disabled individuals are users of cars, buses, and metros. In contrast, the lowest percentage of disabled individuals who cycle to work is 5% in England and 3.5% in London respectively.

A self-driving bike designed for adults and people with disabilities.

Adults and disabled who cannot cycle due to physical limitations. I offer them a self-driving bike that is powered by electricity. Also, the bike will be compatible with a mobile application that

i) Maintains a specific physical activity level, as is not a human-powered vehicle, through a program that considers the type of disability and their health diseases;

ii) Provides educational services, as I believe that education is the most important addition to such a people;

iii) and build a network of cyclists.

Team representative, "I have been cycling for 8 years, so I understand the frustration of not being able to cycle. I can truly empathize with the struggle. Similar to my late grandmother, who unfortunately passed away due to weight gain after giving up cycling." Thus, our team is deeply passionate and committed to the importance of cycling. We all share the belief that cycling can help preserve nature and improve our health. This is why we are the ideal candidates for this project. Additionally, we lea on innovation, technology, and climate change in the initial phases of our project development.

I have developed a minimum viable product (MVP) and tested the promising, innovative, and friendly technologies to potentially incorporate. Currently, I am working on creating a mobile app, with the user interface UI already finished. Although the app has not launched yet, we are offering a comparable user experience to clients through a YouTube channel and daily social media updates that share educational or scholarly content about climate change, cycling, and technology.

ere are 2 main reasons:

i) Learning: MIT offers a variety of courses and challenges in each section of the application. For instance, "become a solver" in this question. Therefore, I would be able to explore something new.

ii) and the potential to grow the project: MIT offers $1M in project funding. Thus, if accepted, I could scale my venture and reach more individuals.

Human activities like fossil fuel combustion and pollution are major contributors to climate change. Let's look at statistics, the fossil fuel combustion is responsible for ¼ greenhouse gas emissions specifically carbon dioxide emissions. Climate change is not just about temperature, it threatens the life on the earth. Thus, we introduce cycling as a more sustainable means of transportation that can replace them and meet the needs of travel. For example, by using cycling in London, a 37% decrease in the use of petroleum-based cars is anticipated. When it comes to using cycling, the cycling gap between the disabled and adults will pose a barrier.

Cycling among adults is extremely lower than that among younger individuals. In the Netherlands, a study of adults discovered that the mobility of those who used bicycles for transportation declined as they aged. It leads 80% of women and 90% of men aged ≥70 years to depend on petroleum-based transportation rather than bicycles. 

Throughout history, disabled individuals have been perceived as non-cyclists. This perception has led to a prevailing belief among the disabled population that cycling is more associated with 'risk' than with 'passion or mode of transportation.' Accordingly, in England, for instance, the highest rates of disabled individuals are found among users of cars, buses, metros, and similar modes of transport.

The solution has 2 compatible parts. Firstly, the physical bike. Secondly, the mobile application offers 10 features, most can be summarized in (climate awareness courses, volunteering opportunities, and Bikeshare). It mainly focuses on adults and the disabled as they are considered non-cyclists in many places.

"Auto-cycle" is the first self-driving bicycle that considers reasons beyond cycling gaps such as norms to manage climate change. It works with IoT systems to provide a powerful tool for day-to-day life situations. It provides educational and empathetic content to connect users emotionally with cycling. It can replace the unsustainable ways of traveling which change how we approach the market when it comes to transportation.

I appreciate cycling as I have been cycling for 8 years. So I aspire to close the gap between non-cyclists and cyclists by enabling EVERYONE to cycle. Therefore, I conducted 3 steps for the project framework.

Firstly, I interviewed disabled people and adults of all ages in this survey [1]. This questionnaire showed that most adults prefer the E-cycling experience rather than the pedaling experience due to physical limitations. In contrast, the younger ages were interested in technology. Thus, we considered focusing on what matters for each age level to prioritize quality over quantity. 

Backing to the survey. According to our investigation with adults and disabled, the main barrier is physical limitation, resulting in an inability to ride pedaling bicycles. Other barriers can be attributed to environmental circumstances and geographical factors contributing to the cycling gap.

Second, I implemented a prototype of the initial product. Or, basically created a MVP. It showed us that cycling is a big contributor to the conservation as expected through the research process. Below, you can find the technical plan of the project.

Technical Prototype

Third, the literature review. This review includes all the findings and deep technical details beyond the project, Also it includes the contribution and new technology innovated.

Connecting adults and disabled with cycling, teaching its contribution to conservation, and building an active cyclists' community dedicated to serving the nation. This is the whole picture beyond the project aspiration. However, the main issue is climate change.

Such goals need to be validated by users. Thus, the community space will be for sharing videos, posts, photos, or any type of content, especially videos, that tell the rest of the community about the progress or their contribution to the community.

We are developing a self-driving bicycle and mobile application as the main skeleton of the solution. 

Different self-driving vehicles follow a linear design methodology or combine multiple methods. When creating a bike for adults and the disabled, it's crucial to use technologies or methods that meet their needs rather than just following the famous technical approach. The product primarily contains four components: biometric recognition, obstacle-avoidance system, localization, and path planning. 

The application has features that center around education and the following services:

Volunteering Opportunities: My application facilitates volunteering opportunities related to cycling. Users can engage in community events and participate in bike-related initiatives.

Private Bike Service: We offer a convenient buying service within the application for those interested in purchasing their own bike.

Educational Courses: The application features educational courses that users can access during their automotive cycling trips. These courses cover various topics such as cycling techniques and safety measures, as well as environment-related courses that align with the values of my project. A fee is charged for these courses, providing a source of revenue while educating and developing skills for the next generation.

Bike Sharing Service: I have integrated a bike-sharing service into our application, allowing users to enjoy the benefits of our self-driving bikes without the need for ownership.

Job Opportunities at Bike Share Stations: Our platform also creates job opportunities for individuals through bike share stations. I will collaborate with local companies that need delivery services and offer them through the app.

When my grandmother, who was a cyclist, reached 70, her ability to cycle vanished. This led her to spend most of her time bedridden, devoid of the passion she once had for cycling. Years later, she had diabetes and other heart diseases. Unfortunately, her story is not unique; it mirrors the experiences of 60-85% of adults worldwide (WHO, 2007). I am here to help individuals facing similar challenges, having a real passion as I understand what it means to live in such a harsh situation.

The target segment is people who cannot cycle as adults and disabled people. I enable them to enjoy the freedom of cycling once again. Beyond this core value proposition, my application offers a holistic solution that considers sociodemographic, gender, racial, and cultural norms.

By addressing the need for cycling, we also draw attention to the climate crisis as a central pain. Furthermore, our bicycles offer a more affordable alternative to electric cars that may be sustainable but still so expensive.

While many businesses provide value for impact and money, I have another term for money "investment in conservation." This means that alongside financial returns, we prioritize making a positive impact on the environment and society, provided with empathy.

The solution I propose is a self-driving bike, accessible through our official application, which is the main source of revenue. The application also plays some additional roles in achieving the investment in conservation value. Those roles are (1) educational, (2). Volunteering opportunities, and (3) share-bike. The app also contributes 23% to the total revenue.

The framework for our business operations will be as follows:

(1) Cycling Club: We will establish a cycling club to market our products. Joining the club will be free of charge and will offer valuable courses on climate change, self-driving technology, and the importance of cycling. The club will help build relationships with potential users.

(2) Application Launch: We will launch an application offering both paid and free services. Paid services, such as advanced courses in technology and cycling, will generate revenue to cover marketing expenses and employee salaries. Users will initially engage with some of our services to build trust in our brand before trying our paid offerings. This trust is crucial as users consider buying our bikes.

(3) Bike Sales: Our main revenue stream will come from selling bikes through the application.

In terms of revenue generation, our business model centers around the following services:

Bike Sales: We offer a buying service for private bikes through the application.

Courses: The application features educational courses covering various topics such as cycling techniques and safety measures. Additionally, we provide environment-related courses that align with the values of our project. These courses are available for a fee, providing a source of revenue while imparting knowledge and skills to our users.

Sharebike Service: We have integrated a sharebike service into our application, allowing users to access self-driving bikes without the need for ownership.

This framework enables us to generate revenue while promoting sustainable transportation and environmental awareness.