Kiwibot, a robotic sidewalk delivery startup, announces its arrival at Southern, ensuring an affordable on-campus food delivery service for students.
“We are always looking for innovative ways to better serve our students and were intrigued when Sodexo introduced the Kiwibots to us,” said Tracy Tyree, vice president for student affairs. “Having now seen them in action, I couldn’t be more excited to be one of the first public universities in the state to offer robot on-demand food delivery. KiwiBots offer convenience when a student, or faculty or staff member, doesn’t have time to run out for something to eat.”
By using this new service, students will be able to enjoy their food delivery with zero carbon emissions, helping them reduce their carbon footprints and encouraging delivery services to be as sustainable as possible.
Kiwibot’s proven track record is in part due to its ongoing relationship with Sodexo, a food services and facilities management company.
“We are thrilled to partner with Kiwibot to further advance our offerings on campus through technology and delivery. Our goal is to impact the student experience at every point of service. This collaboration will allow them to save time by having their meals and beverages delivered to more than 30 locations across campus.” said Anthony Deluce, general manager from Sodexo.
Through Sodexo’s new mobile application, Everyday, users can place an order with their chosen restaurant. A robot will pick up the food and deliver it to the selected drop-off location on campus and they receive a unique link to track the order, follow the robot’s location in real-time, and finally, open the lid and enjoy their meal. The hours of operation are from 8 am to 6 pm, and there will be 15 robots operating at Southern Connecticut State University.
To ensure safe operations on campus, Kiwibot relies on the most advanced technology and a semi-autonomous driving system. The robots create a virtual visualization of the world in real-time, using high-tech sensors, reflective flags, night lights, and a range lidar. Human supervisors are on watch if additional assistance is needed and an on-site team will be ready for immediate support.
“Kiwibots will bring joy to everyone on campus: This service allows students, faculty, and staff to not only invest their time more productively but also to merge into robotics,” said John Tarin, head of global operations at Kiwibot.
It is an exciting endeavor for Kiwibot to be part of the Southern community and to help students get closer to the world of technology, robotics, and entrepreneurship. The on-site Kiwibot team will be available to participate in campus events.
Watch this promotional video for Kiwibot on YouTube and Instagram.
Get ready for the innovative future of delivery by downloading the Everyday App from the App Store or the Play Store, and stay tuned to Kiwibot social media to be the first to order.
