Starship Technologies suspends Oregon State University robot delivery service after bomb threat prank
Starship Technologies has temporarily pulled its autonomous delivery service at Oregon State University (OSU) in the US, after a student sent a bomb threat related to its robots.
OSU had advised students to “not open robots. Avoid all robots until further notice. Public Safety is responding”.
In a statement posted on social media, dated 24th October, Starship said: “A student at Oregon State University sent a bomb threat, via social media, that involved our robots on the campus.”
“While the student has subsequently stated this is a joke and a prank, Starship suspended the service. Safety is of the utmost importance to us and we are cooperating with law enforcement and the university during this investigation.”
An hour or so later, it added “Local authorities have given the all clear. We expect the robots to be back in service at OSU later this afternoon.”
File under ‘bloody students!’…
University of Akron
The University of Akron recently rolled out a robot food delivery service, covering its campus building and residence halls.
This is the result of a partnership between Starship Technologies, Aramark, and The University of Akron.
Starship’s fleet of autonomous, on-demand robots will deliver from several campus eateries including: Starbucks, Qdoba, Panda Express, Auntie Anne’s and Freshens.
Students, faculty and staff can now use the firm’s app to order food and drinks from local retailers to be delivered for a fee. The service works in conjunction with the student meal plan, or individuals can pay by credit card on the app.
Starship is providing services to other campuses across the US, including Purdue University, James Madison University, University of Mississippi, Arizona State University, and, of course, OSU.
To get started, users open the app, choose from a range of food or drink items, then drop a pin where they want their delivery to be sent.
They can then watch as the robot makes its journey to them, via an interactive map. Once the robot arrives, they receive an alert, and can then meet and unlock it through the app.
The delivery usually takes just a matter of minutes, depending on the menu items ordered and the distance the robot must travel. Each one can carry the equivalent of about three shopping bags of goods.
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