It’s a cliché: college students ordering pizza delivery. In Las Vegas, getting a meal or a snack delivered to your dorm room is done a little differently.
Two years ago, Starship Technologies and Grubhub teamed up to deploy a fleet of robots delivering food to students across the UNLV campus. Using their phones and their campus dining program credits, students can easily place their order from UNLV Dining or P.O.D. Market locations, and within about 15 minutes, the robot will show up at their door or classroom.
UNLV is not alone; Starship robots operate at more than 20 college campuses nationwide, among other global locations. It may seem like a fun novelty, but the useful robot deliveries also provide access to food for students with mobility challenges, and provide a solid late-night dining option.
“The main benefit to the program is being able to meet students where they’re at, and provide them with a convenient service to make their campus experience that much more easy, welcoming, and fun,” says UNLV Student Affairs vice president Keith Rogers.
The program could soon expand after recent legislation passed that would enable the robots to move off campus and use Clark County sidewalks and crosswalks. A new ordinance is scheduled to be introduced to county commissioners this month, followed by a public hearing in September. “We are grateful to our state elected officials who passed SB442, and our partners in Clark County who continue to work through this process for us to better serve 3,000-plus people who are not able to access these services,” Rogers says.
Click HERE to subscribe for free to the Weekly Fix, the digital edition of Las Vegas Weekly! Stay up to date with the latest on Las Vegas concerts, shows, restaurants, bars and more, sent directly to your inbox!