Ball State adopts robotic delivery service
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Ball State University has launched a fleet of 24 robots to deliver food, snacks and drinks from on-campus dining locations. The university has partnered with California-based Starship Technologies to put the cooler-sized delivery units in motion.
Ball State is the second university in Indiana to launch the service. In 2019, Purdue University began operating a fleet of 30 Starship robots, and the partnership continues today. Ball State officials visited the West Lafayette campus to see the robots in action, which helped BSU decide to partner with Starship.
“The Starship robots provide our students, faculty and staff, and campus visitors a safe and effective way to have food delivered to their location,” said Karen Adkins, Ball State University senior director of auxiliary services for dining, catering, and events. “This will make for a more enjoyable campus experience while saving time for those who use the service.”
Each autonomous robot has 12 cameras, sensors and 3D radar to help the unit navigate the streets and sidewalks of the Muncie campus.
To use the delivery system, customers must download a Starship app, which is available in both iOS and Android formats. In the app, customers can make their order from a campus dining location, select a delivery location, and then wait for it to arrive.
Once on site, the customer receives an alert that the robot has arrived and allows the customer to unlock the box through their smartphone.
There is a $2.49 delivery fee per use.
Ball State says each robot can deliver the equivalent of three shopping bags of goods.
Adkins says BSU President Geoffrey Mearns was the first customer. He ordered freshly made donuts.