NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — Tennessee Tech University’s Dining Services are rolling into the future with robotic delivery, bringing meals to students’ doorsteps.
Tennessee Tech partnered with Starship Technologies, a global leader in sidewalk autonomous delivery, to launch a new robotic food delivery program designed to bring additional convenience, flexibility, and amusement to campus dining.
The program soft-launched with robots delivering orders from Which Wich, Poet’s Coffee, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Swoops Market, and Starbucks. More dining locations will be added soon to guarantee full service is available from all locations by the beginning of the fall semester.
“These robots are going to help us reach more students, faculty and staff – especially those who are farther from the center of campus,” said Dirk Anderson, director of Dining Services. “Whether you’re in Tech Village, Foundation Hall, or the Varsity Building, this gives you a convenient new option to have a meal brought right to you.”
Students, faculty, and staff can access the service through the Starship app to place an order. The app provides estimated wait times and real-time tracking as the robot travels across campus.
Tech students are excited to see the robots throughout campus.
“Students have already started spotting them around campus, and the reactions have been hilarious,” said Taylor Petty, marketing manager for Dining Services. “We like to think of the robots as a sort of mascot for campus dining.”
Each robot has ultrasonic sensors, cameras, and advanced navigation systems that ensure it moves safely through its environment, along with built-in security features. During delivery, the robot is securely locked and can only be unlocked by the customer through the app.
