A group of ten mechanical engineering students from ETH Zurich in Switzerland recently created what they are calling the AutoBike. It is designed to function like a normal bike while riding, with the capability to drive itself to a bike-share station as needed. These students developed the AutoBike from a concept to a working prototype capable of fully autonomous runs in a span of just nine months. They believe it could be game changing for the bike share industry.The team of mechanical engineering students behind the AutoBike.What Problem Does AutoBike Solve?According to Markus Bacher, the CEO of PubliBike, Switzerlands largest bike-sharing system, Redistributing the bikes is one of our biggest operational challenges. One-way trips and popular routes can often result in poor distribution of bikes, meaning that some stations are full while others are left empty. This leaves some riders unable to find bikes when they need them.To remedy this, bike share companies have traditionally relied on crews using vans to pick up and redistribute (aka. rebalancing) the bikes to spread them more evenly throughout their service areas. Not only is this time-consuming, but it also adds labor and vehicle costs to the equation. Not to mention, in some areas, bike share companies can be fined for poor bike distribution. According to information provided by the folks at AutoBike, the estimated per-year running cost of just one bike-share bike is roughly 2,200 CHF or $2,780 USD, and roughly 30% of that is spent on redistribution.Given that all bikes will still need maintenance and e-bikes will still need charging or battery swaps, AutoBike will not completely negate the need for bike-share companies to have employees. But they believe it could help to reduce costs significantly with fewer man-hours and vehicles required to redistribute the bikes. Furthermore, they say better distribution results in greater bike availability, thereby reducing the number of bikes, potentially by half, needed in a bike-share fleet to serve the same number of riders.How Does It Work?According to the folks behind the AutoBike, it rides just like a normal bike-share bike. The autonomous steering and braking modules are hidden within the frame, and the retractable support wheels fold up and away for normal riding. Riders take the bike where they need to go and park it like any other bike share. The difference is, the AutoBike can then drive itself where it is needed.Once parked, the retractable wheels deploy to balance the bike when stopped or when moving on its own. It uses 360 LiDAR to map its surroundings, including people and other obstacles, and navigate a safe path around them. The steering and braking modules are integrated discreetly into the downtube of the frame, with the bikes computer, battery, and safety systems stored in a compact box above/around the rear wheel. It is designed to move at a walking pace when self-driving. Check out the video below to see it in action.Are Autonomous Bikes Legal?Autonomous vehicles are becoming increasingly common, but their legality varies by location. According to AutoBike: In Switzerland, the Ordinance on Automated Driving has allowed driverless vehicles since 1 March 2025, on routes approved by the canton and supervised remotely by an operator (ASTRA). We are in contact with ASTRA about how this applies to AutoBike. Rules differ from country to country, which is why we start on private grounds and in approved zones.How Much $ Could It Save?The AutoBike is designed for and aimed squarely at the bike-share market. The folks behind it believe that it could reduce fleet size and significantly reduce the per-bike running cost for bike-share companies. On its website, AutoBike even has a savings calculator that companies can use to estimate the potential savings of using its autonomous bike technology.Coming to a City Near You?Dont expect to see your city streets filled with bike-shares that are driving themselves around just yet. The AutoBike is currently just a working research prototype. That said, AutoBike says now that its autonomous test drives have been completed, they are currently talking to potential partners about running pilot programs. Interested parties can head to the AutoBike website to learn more or get in touch.autobike.ethz.ch