New Food Delivery Robots to Arrive on Campus

As Seahawks return to the nest this fall, robotic food delivery will look different. The autonomous Starship food delivery robots are no longer operating on campus following a strategic decision by Starship Technologies. 
  
Starship Technologies announced in June it would wind down its university operations and redeploy more than 1,200 robots to support grocery retailers and hot food delivery services in cities across the United States and Europe. Starship robots were on the UNCW campus for one academic year, delivering more than 12,400 Grubhub orders.  
  
To continue providing a service Seahawks love, UNCW Business Services and Dining has partnered with Avride, a developer of autonomous vehicles and robot delivery technology. Avride robots work directly with Grubhub, connecting seamlessly with UNCW's food service ecosystem. Seahawks will see no change in how they place food orders through the app. 
  
“Our priority was finding a partner that would allow us to maintain the convenience of on-campus robot delivery without disrupting the customer experience,” said Eric Huver, assistant director of One Card and Technology. “With Avride's integration into Grubhub, Seahawks won't need to learn a new system or change their ordering habits. They can keep using Grubhub just as they always have and enjoy the same convenient delivery experience.” 
  
While the ordering experience will remain the same, Avride robots feature several differences. The robots have expressive digital faces, a larger size and carrying capacity of up to 55 pounds compared to Starship’s 20-pound limit, and enhanced navigation technology designed to ensure smooth travel to and from their destination, likely reducing delivery times.  
  
"We are thrilled to welcome Avride to the UNCW campus and look forward to building a strong partnership centered on innovation and service," Gino Galutera, associate vice chancellor for Business Services. "Avride's technology allows us to continue delivering the convenience students enjoy while reinforcing our commitment to exploring forward-thinking solutions that enhance campus life."