Meet Snack Efron: Towson University’s Beloved Robot Star Taking Campus Life by Storm!

It used to be a hassle for college students to grab a meal. They’d face long lines and bad weather just to get to the dining hall. But things are changing, especially at Towson University.

Towson recently introduced self-driving food delivery robots. These little robots, about the size of a large suitcase, are transforming how students get their favorite food on campus. From pizza to burritos, the robots are here to deliver it all.

Richard Coburn, a manager at Aramark Collegiate Hospitality, mentioned that the fleet of 14 robots makes around 100 deliveries a day. One of the bots has even been playfully named “Snack Efron,” inspired by Zac Efron. While it’s hard to tell them apart, students enjoy the fun names.

Towson University has around 16,000 undergraduate students and is part of a larger trend. Numerous colleges now use food delivery robots, which have quickly become a staple for students looking for convenience. Coburn emphasized that they are meeting students where they are, allowing them to enjoy meals without the hassle.

The partnership between Towson, Starship Technologies, and Grubhub rolled out earlier this year. Initial responses were positive, and the demand led to an expansion of the program. Soon, even more robots might join the fleet.

These robots are about 75 pounds and equipped with sensors and lights. They move gently along sidewalks at speeds of 3 to 5 mph. The bots were trained for their routes by a technician who took them around campus manually with a controller.

At first, students were excited. Many took selfies and shot TikTok videos with the robots. Now, they’ve largely blended into campus life. Bethany Comegys, a marketing manager at Aramark, noted that the robots have become a normal sight.

To get a delivery, a student places an order through Grubhub from on-campus restaurants like Panda Express and Chick-fil-A. The food is loaded into the robot, which then makes its way to the student’s location—like dorms or the library. Deliveries typically take about 10 minutes.

However, not every journey is perfect. Bots sometimes crash, tip over, or get a bit lost. Coburn humorously mentioned that they often get locked in amusing “staredowns” with each other.

Despite occasional mishaps, students appreciate the robots. Many use them during late-night study sessions or when they’re not feeling well. A freshman named Kimora Miles said she loves using the service to stay in bed after classes.

Interestingly, bot deliveries don’t come without challenges. For instance, a pizza for one student took over two hours to arrive. Nevertheless, most students find the convenience worth it, especially during rainy days.

Overall, Towson University’s food delivery robots represent a new wave of convenience for college life, providing a unique mix of technology and everyday needs. They have quickly become a part of the social fabric of campus life, showing just how much technology can change our daily routines.

For more on how robotics are shaping the future of food delivery, check out this Business Insider article.

Source link

baltimore county,delivery,robots,university,featured-extrawide