Peyton Perry remembers when she first heard about delivery robots at Fairfield University. Excited, she tried the service at a campus Starbucks and steadily relied on it during her junior year. By senior year, she noticed these robots everywhere. “Every day, I’d see multiple robots,” she shared with Business Insider. The campus had shifted from skepticism to acceptance, with workers regularly stocking the robots.
A few years back, food delivery robots had a rough start. Students often vandalized them, but as technology improved, the bikes became part of campus life. Now, over 78 universities in the U.S. utilize delivery robots, according to companies in the sector. While college campuses were the initial testing grounds, giants like DoorDash have since joined the market.
Starship: The Leading Innovator
Starship, co-founded by Skype creators Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis in 2014, is the biggest player in this space. It operates in over 60 campuses, with 2,000 robots serving around 1.5 million students. The company has raised $230 million, and after years of refinement, they now profit on each delivery. Heinla mentioned, “We have optimized costs, so the unit economics work.”
Starship collaborates with Grubhub, making it easier for students to access robot deliveries. About half the campuses use Starship’s app, while the rest rely on Grubhub. Steve Iarocci from Grubhub highlights that some robots are designed for busy streets, while others suit pedestrian areas. The partnerships reflect a growing wave of robotic delivery solutions in education settings.
Competition from Robot.com and Avride
Robot.com, previously known as Kiwibot, started in 2017 at UC Berkeley. Founded by Felipe Chavez, it currently operates on 16 campuses and focuses heavily on college environments. They’ve raised around $33 million but did not confirm the total. Advertising now constitutes a significant revenue stream, accounting for 35% to 40% of their income.
Emerging behind Robot.com is Avride, a U.S. startup that spun out from Russian tech company Yandex. They operate mainly at Ohio State University and the University of Arizona. Avride’s deployment of robots has shown significant financial value, proving beneficial to food providers.
Despite their advances, these companies face challenges. Statistics from the National Association of College and University Food Services show that the adoption of delivery robots is still niche. At campuses like UNC Charlotte, late-night deliveries account for only 15% to 20% of total orders. Most students use them during late-night study sessions or when they’re unwell.
Ongoing Hurdles and Student Reactions
Even with heightened capabilities, some robots still face issues. A student at Miami University noticed that robots struggled to navigate streets successfully, and students often joked about their slow pace. As Perry described a mishap with her Starbucks order, it’s clear that these robots are still learning.
Fees can also deter students. Average delivery costs hover around $2.49, not steep but still concerning for some. If colleges embed these costs into meal plans, usage increases, as noted by Drew Nannis from Sodexo.
While colleges vary in their experiences with robotic deliveries, students’ reactions are crucial in shaping this technology. Though many don’t see it replacing traditional dining, the convenience during specific times keeps interest alive. Starship’s Heinla summed it up well: “We’re not testing anything. We know it works.”
In a world where technology continually evolves, the future of delivery robots on campus appears bright, but like all innovations, a few bumps remain on the road ahead. For more information on delivery robots, you can check out the Business Insider article.
