Starship Technologies launches robot deliveries at Missouri State University

Starship Technologies has rolled out its robot food delivery service at Missouri State University, in partnership with Chartwells Higher Education.

This is the first university in Missouri where Starship robots are in action. They will provide deliveries daily.

“I think the robots will be a huge hit on campus,” says Dee Siscoe, Missouri State Vice President for student affairs. “Our campus community will be able to receive food and drinks in a fun, fast and innovative new way.”

Missouri State’s more than 20,000 students, faculty and staff can now use the Starship app to order food and drinks from local retailers to be delivered anywhere on the main campus, within minutes.

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

Starship is currently providing services to campuses across the US, including BGSU, University of Houston, The University of Utah and University of Idaho.

“We’re excited to start the new school year by expanding our services to Missouri,” says Chris Neider, Director, Business Development at Starship Technologies.

“We think the students will quickly see the advantages of contactless delivery and enjoy having the robots become part of the campus community.” 

The robots use a combination of machine learning, artificial intelligence and sensors to travel on sidewalks and navigate around obstacles.

The computer vision-based navigation helps the robots to map their environment to the nearest inch.

They can cross streets, climb curbs, travel at night and operate in both rain and snow. A team of humans can also monitor their progress remotely and can take control at a moment’s notice.