USI introducing robot delivery for campus dining
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The University of Southern Indiana is rolling out a new method of delivering eats to its campus community. This fall, USI is the latest university to adopt food robots on campus.
The robots, called Kiwibots, launched Monday and deliver throughout campus, including to student housing, during campus dining hours.
Students and staff can place orders for meals offered by campus dining location using the Grubhub app, which will charge a $3 delivery fee. The university is adopting a fleet of 15 robots to start. The service is being offered in partnership with USI’s food service provider, Sodexo.
“We are thrilled to continually collaborate with Grubhub and Kiwibot in expanding our range of delivery options for the University community,” Director of Dining Services Rebecca Diamond said in a news release. “The introduction of Kiwibot robots will revolutionize convenience for our busy students and employees.”
University officials say they expect food delivery to take just minutes depending on the meal ordered. Users can track the progress of the meal using an interactive map. The unmanned robots use sensors to detect its surroundings and orders must be unlocked using the app.
Other universities like Purdue and Notre Dame have introduced the food robot technology over the last several years.
“Having Kiwibot robots on campus gives our students a chance to see and interact with innovation beyond the classroom,” Vice President for Finance and Administration Steve Bridges said. “The robots are a direct reflection of our modern campus which continues to evolve.”