Dr. Ryan C.C. Chin is a leading expert in the area of smart cities and urban mobility systems. He was the Managing Director of the City Science Initiative at the MIT Media Lab, has researched Autonomous MoD systems and developed electric vehicles, including CityCar, which Time Magazine named the “Automotive Invention of the Year” in 2007. Dr. Chin advises industry and government agencies on Smart Cities innovations, is a former member of the White House PCAST’s working group on Technology and the Future of Cities, and is a frequent speaker at conferences like TEDx, MIT EmTech and Smart City Expo. Dr. Chin has won many awards for his research, including the Katerva Award and the 100K Buckminster Fuller Challenge. He received his Ph.D. (2012) and MS (2004) in Media Arts and Sciences and a MArch (2000) in Architecture from MIT. He earned both his BCE and BSArch from the Catholic University of America (1997).

Optimus Ride Inc. is a MIT spinoff company based in Boston, MA that develops self-driving technologies that enable efficient, sustainable, and equitable mobility systems. Optimus Ride combines over 30 years of interdisciplinary university research in self-driving technologies (DARPA Urban Challenge), electric vehicles (CityCar), and Mobility-on-Demand Systems. The team also has a decade of industrial and entrepreneurial experience that includes shared fleets and manufacturing robots. Our team is focused on the fastest path to market, in order to maximize the benefits of self-driving technologies for all. We have created a highly collaborative, hands-on, and open environment that is centrally located in the Hub of Innovation.