University of Minnesota introduces food delivery robots to East Bank campus

The future is here for University of Minnesota students, who can now have their food delivered by robots.

M Food Co. has partnered with Starship Technologies to offer delivery services from campus restaurants to over 40 buildings on the East Bank – all by a tiny robot. The robots have been in development since June and were introduced to campus on Wednesday.

“We’re thrilled to offer this food delivery option to our community members,” Alice Roberts-Davis, vice president of University Services said in a press release.

“Starship’s delivery service fulfills the University's commitment to accessibility by offering a convenient option for students, faculty and staff who may have mobility issues or tight schedules. In addition, the robots are battery-powered, making them a sustainable option by reducing the carbon footprint of traditional automobile-based deliveries."

Starship was founded in 2014 by Skype co-founders Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis and specialize in creating these delivery robots. The company now operates in over 60 locations across the world, and announced it would be expanding its services to 50 college campuses in the U.S. in August of last year.

To place an order, students have to download the Starship Delivery app and then order from participating campus restaurants, such as Panda Express, Starbucks and Erbert & Gerbert’s in Coffman Memorial Union.

Students will be able to track their order as the robot makes its way to the delivery site. Once the robots arrive at the delivery site, students can unlock the robot through the app and collect their food.

Students' dining dollars and Gopher GOLD can be synced to Starship’s app, with students charged a delivery fee when they order from campus restaurants.

The robots can deliver almost everywhere on the East Bank, with the app showing students if they are in the delivery area.

According to the university, the robots drive autonomously most of the time, using a mixture of computer vision and GPS to pinpoint their exact location to the nearest inch. However, they are monitored remotely by a human who can take control at any time if something were to happen.

While the idea of a robot falling over at the slightest touch, or one being run over can be a concern for some students, the university says obstacle detection can prevent this from happening.

The robots use a combination of machine learning, artificial intelligence and sensors to travel on sidewalks and navigate obstacles, cross streets, climb curbs, travel at night and operate in both rain and snow. They are also decked out with twelve cameras, ultrasonic sensors, radars, neural networks and more to detect any kind of obstacles.

They are also designed to be environmentally friendly and are 100% electric, and are sanitized before every delivery.

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