Fleet of food delivery robots launched at University of Houston

HOUSTON, TEXAS (KTRK) — The University of Houston welcomed an autonomous food delivery service to campus Monday.

A fleet of 30 Starship autonomous delivery robots can now bring students food in just a matter of minutes.

The recipient can even track the delivery, made to a building’s nearest outdoor entrance, in real time.

“This revolutionary delivery method will make it more convenient for the campus community to take advantage of our diverse dining program from anywhere on campus while expanding the hours of operation,” said Emily Messa, UH associate vice president for administration.

The university didn’t have to spend any money on purchasing the technology, as it is paid for by the customers through a $1.99 delivery fee.

The robots travel four to six miles per hour and maneuver mainly on sidewalks using numerous sensors, cameras, and an obstacle detection system to find their way and avoid collisions.

Watch the food delivery service robot in action on campus!

The next generation of food delivery right at UH? Watch how the food delivery service robot works on campus!

According to the maker, Starship Technologies, the robots stay locked until the customer opens them with a command from their mobile phone.

Customers can order food to be delivered from 11 different UH dining locations through the Starship Deliveries app.

The app allows users to watch the robot’s journey to them through an interactive map.

The robots can cross streets, climb curbs, travel at night and operate in both rain and snow.