Robots Now Delivering at Missouri State University

Twenty autonomous robots are now delivering food to students, faculty and staff on the campus of Missouri State University.

The on-demand, self-driving technology launched this week in partnership with Chartwells Higher Education and can deliver food and drinks from several campus eateries, including Einstein Bros. Bagels, Subway, Panda Express and Market Cafe 1905, anywhere on the main campus.

Users place their orders through an app and drop a pin where they want their delivery to be sent. Once the robot arrives, they receive an alert, meet it and unlock it through the app. The deliveries usually take “minutes,” according to the manufacturer of the technology, depending on the menu items ordered and the distance the robot must travel.

The service soon will work in conjunction with the student meal plan dining dollars.

The robots already are delivering on campuses across the country, including Bowling Green State University, University of Houston, The University of Utah and University of Idaho. Since launch, all campuses have increased the number of robots, dining options and hours of operation to meet demand, says the manufacturer.