Food Delivery Robots Roll out at U of I
March 23, 2022
MOSCOW, Idaho — March 23, 2022 — Beginning today, Vandals on the University of Idaho Moscow campus can have robots deliver food from several Idaho Eats locations, including Qdoba, True Burger, Einstein Bros. Bagels and Cravings by Joe via Starship’s fleet of 15 autonomous food delivery robots.
“We’re excited to bring this service to a wide array of our dining options.” said Cami McClure, assistant vice president for Auxiliary Services. “The university community is eager for on-campus dining delivery and now, with Starship Technologies, we are able to offer a fun, fast and friendly way to deliver.”
U of I is the first university in Idaho to introduce robot food delivery service. Students and employees can now use the Starship Food Delivery app (iOS and Android) to order food and drinks to be delivered anywhere on campus, within minutes. The delivery service works in conjunction with Idaho Eats meal plans and Vandals may pay using Dining Dollars.
The app allows users to watch the robot’s journey in real time through an interactive map. Once the robot arrives, the user will receive an alert, and they can meet the robot and unlock it through the app. The delivery usually takes just a matter of minutes, depending on the menu items ordered and the distance the robot must travel. Robots can carry the equivalent of about three shopping bags of groceries.
Starship is already providing services to campuses across the country, including UT Dallas, University of Houston, University of Nevada, Reno and Bowling Green State University.
“We are very pleased to expand our services to Idaho,” said Ryan Tuohy, Senior Vice President of Business Development and Sales at Starship Technologies. We think the entire campus community will love seeing the robots roaming around campus and appreciate the convenience of on-demand deliveries, whether that means skipping long lines, sleeping in or getting deliveries for late night studies.”
Starship plans to hire students to work with the Starship fleet.
"We’re thrilled to be the first to welcome the Starship robots to Idaho and the Vandal community,” said Mo Alhabashneh, Idaho Eats Resident District Manager. “This innovative technology will enhance our level of service and make our dining options readily available to all Vandals wherever they find themselves on campus.”
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Media Contact
Kim Howe
Director of Marketing & Guest Experience, Idaho Eats
971-930-5855
kim.howe@compass-usa.com
About Starship Technologies
Starship Technologies is revolutionizing deliveries with autonomous robots. The robots are designed to deliver food, groceries, and packages locally in minutes. The delivery robots have traveled millions of miles and completed more than three million autonomous deliveries around the world. They drive autonomously but are monitored by humans who can take control at any time. Starship was founded by Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis (Skype Chief Architect and Co-founder) and Alastair Westgarth is the CEO.
Media Contact:
Janel Steinberg
Vice President, Liberty Comms
415-429-5662
starship@libertycomms.com
About the University of Idaho
The University of Idaho, home of the Vandals, is Idaho’s land-grant, national research university. From its residential campus in Moscow, U of I serves the state of Idaho through educational centers in Boise, Coeur d’Alene and Idaho Falls, nine research and Extension centers, plus Extension offices in 42 counties. Home to nearly 11,000 students statewide, U of I is a leader in student-centered learning and excels at interdisciplinary research, service to businesses and communities, and in advancing diversity, citizenship and global outreach. U of I competes in the Big Sky and Western Athletic conferences. Learn more at uidaho.edu.