Summary
LumaPod is a dual-purpose autonomous pod system designed for Cornell Tech and Roosevelt Island. During the day, the pods function as mobile solar-powered battery units that collect and store energy to support campus lighting and safety infrastructure. At night, the same pods transition into an on-demand transportation service that provides students with safe and reliable rides between campus, residential buildings (River Walk Heights, The Octagon, etc.), and transit hubs (subway and tram). LumaPod combines renewable energy storage as well as nighttime mobility to reinvent the role of autonomous vehicles on Roosevelt Island to support both sustainability and student safety.
What AVs are involved?
The system uses a fleet of 6–8 small, self-driving electric pods designed for both energy storage and short-distance transportation. During the day, the pods park in designated sunny areas around campus where rooftop solar panels collect and store energy in onboard battery systems. At night, they transition into autonomous ride vehicles for students traveling across Roosevelt Island. Each pod fits 3 passengers and uses sensors like cameras and LiDAR to navigate in real time. The vehicles are stationed at the Cornell Tech campus and operate within a defined area connecting campus, nearby residential buildings, and the Roosevelt Island tram and subway station. The pods operate at 10–15 mph in pedestrian heavy areas around campus and residential streets, and can travel up to 20 mph on quieter Roosevelt Island roads when conditions are clear (ie. at night).
What are they doing?
During the day, LumaPod vehicles act as mobile solar-powered battery units. The stored solar energy helps power nearby campus infrastructure such as pathway lighting, pickup zone lighting, and emergency communication stations. At night, the same pods transition into an on-demand ride service operating between 8 PM and 3 AM. Primary pickup points are located outside The House at Cornell Tech and in front of the Graduate Hotel. Students can request a ride through a mobile app, and a pod arrives within minutes to take them directly to nearby residential buildings or the Roosevelt Island tram and subway station. Instead of walking alone late at night, students have a safer and more reliable way to get around the island.
Why here?
Cornell Tech’s campus creates a concentrated environment where students frequently move between academic buildings, housing, and transit late at night. Students are not only living at The House, but also in nearby residential buildings across Roosevelt Island, which increases the need for reliable nighttime transportation. Existing options like the Red Bus are also inconsistent at night, sometimes not running at all or operating with only a single bus for the entire island. Cornell Tech’s focus on sustainability makes it an ideal environment for a system that combines both renewable energy infrastructure with autonomous transportation.
Stakeholders
Who participates?
The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) provides access to infrastructure and helps designate pickup zones around campus and nearby residential buildings. Cornell Tech supports the project through research collaboration and student feedback that helps improve the system over time. A private autonomous vehicle provider manages the fleet as well as day-to-day operations of the pods. NYC DOT oversees regulations and ensures the system meets safety and accessibility standards.
Who is impacted?
Cornell Tech students are the primary users, especially those traveling between campus, nearby residential buildings, and the tram or subway late at night. This includes students leaving late classes, studying on campus, or returning from Manhattan/Queens. The system also benefits faculty and visitors by making the campus feel safer and easier to navigate after hours. During the day, the pods contribute to campus infrastructure by supporting lighting and energy systems through stored solar power. Because LumaPod provides a more reliable and on-demand option, students may rely less on transportation services like the Red Bus during late-night hours.
How does the solution use their capabilities?
RIOC helps make the system possible by providing access to island infrastructure and coordinating designated pickup and charging zones. Cornell Tech contributes research support and user feedback from students who regularly use the service. The AV provider manages the vehicles, routing systems, solar battery technology, and maintenance operations. NYC DOT ensures the pods operate safely and comply with transportation regulations.
How does it address their concerns?
Safety is a major focus of the system. At night, the pods move at low speeds and use bright interior and exterior lighting so riders feel visible and secure. Each pod includes an emergency communication feature that allows riders to quickly contact support if needed. During the day, stored solar energy powers lighting around pickup zones and campus walkways, helping improve visibility after dark. Privacy is handled through minimal data collection, secure ride tracking, and automatic deletion of ride data after a short period. Accessibility is supported through step-free entry and space for mobility devices. To prevent congestion, the number of active pods adjusts based on demand throughout the day and night.
Relevant Blueprints for Autonomous Urbanism
The following urban design strategies are drawn from the NACTO Blueprint for Autonomous Urbanism, 2nd Edition.
Dedicated AV Pickup and Drop-off Zones
NACTO recommends clearly marked pickup and drop-off (PUDO) areas to reduce conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians. LumaPod follows this by using designated, well-lit pickup zones near campus buildings, residential housing, and the tram station. These zones are placed slightly away from major walkways so pods do not block pedestrian traffic. Ground markings, lighting, and signage make the pickup areas easy to locate, especially at night, while still fitting naturally into the campus environment.
Slow Zones and Pedestrian Priority Design
NACTO emphasizes low-speed environments where pedestrians remain the priority, especially in areas with heavy foot traffic like college campuses and residential streets (Slow Zones). LumaPod vehicles operate at walking speed around high-traffic areas near Cornell Tech, pickup zones, and residential pathways to ensure students feel safe sharing space with the pods. The vehicles are programmed to always yield to pedestrians, slow down near intersections and crowded walkways, and navigate carefully through shared spaces. Pickup zones are marked with reflective paint and illuminated signage to improve visibility at night and make pickup locations easy to identify. Overall, the system is designed to feel integrated into the campus environment rather than disruptive to it.
Methods
Step 1
- Tool: Gemini AI
- Transformation: Generated realistic visualizations of the LumaPod system operating around Cornell Tech and Roosevelt Island. Prompts focused on autonomous electric pods, solar charging infrastructure, illuminated pickup zones, reflective pavement markings, and pedestrian-friendly campus environments during both daytime and nighttime conditions. Multiple iterations were created to refine vehicle placement, lighting, and overall realism within the campus setting.
- Result: Produced concept renderings that illustrate LumaPod functioning as both a renewable energy infrastructure system during the day and a nighttime transportation service for students.
Step 2
- Tool: Apple Photos Editing Tools
- Transformation: Edited the generated images by adjusting brightness, contrast, shadows, reflections, and color tones to create a more cohesive and realistic atmosphere. Additional refinements were made to improve nighttime lighting effects, visibility of pickup zones, and overall visual consistency across the project renderings.
- Result: Created polished final images showing LumaPod integrated naturally into the Cornell Tech and Roosevelt Island environment.
Step 3
- Tool: Figma
- Transformation: Designed a mobile app interface for the LumaPod system, including real-time pod tracking, pickup and drop-off selection, ride requests, and solar energy status indicators. The interface was designed with a clean and minimal layout focused on nighttime visibility and ease of use for students.
- Result: Created a functional app UI concept that demonstrates how students would interact with the LumaPod system during nighttime transportation.