UNCW is excited to announce an innovative partnership with Starship Technologies and Grubhub, which brings a fleet of autonomous delivery robots to campus this fall.

Starship’s fleet of on-demand robots is delivering from on-campus retail dining options such as Chick-fil-A and Starbucks @ The Hub. While on campus, students can use the Grubhub app to order food and drinks for delivery anywhere on campus.

“Introducing Starship to our campus reflects our commitment to innovation, convenience and the evolving needs of our students,” said Gino Galutera, associate vice chancellor of Business Services. “Whether it’s making food more accessible between classes or simply adding a bit of delight to daily routines, this technology is one more way we are enhancing the Seahawk experience. We’re proud to be leveraging smart solutions that meet students where they are — literally.”

The service is available for anyone on campus who has access to the Grubhub app. After an order is placed, users can watch as the robot makes its journey to them, via an interactive map. Once the robot arrives, they receive an alert to meet and unlock it through the app. Delivery typically only takes a few minutes, depending on items ordered, distance and demand. Each robot can carry up to 20 pounds, which is equivalent to about three shopping bags of goods.

Learn more about Campus Dining

Starship Technologies operates commercially on a daily basis around the world. Its zero emission robots have already safely completed 8M+ deliveries and driven over 10M miles with Level 4 autonomy. The robots use a combination of sophisticated machine learning, artificial intelligence and sensors to travel on sidewalks and navigate around obstacles. The campus vision-based navigation helps the robots map their environment to the nearest inch. The robots can cross streets, climb curbs, travel at night and operate in rain and snow. A team of humans can also monitor their progress remotely and can take control at a moment’s notice.