Kiwibot and Sodexo Partner to Expand College Campus Food Delivery

Kiwibot Expands Robotic Delivery to More U.S. College Campuses

Kiwibot, a company specializing in robotic sidewalk delivery, has formed a strategic alliance with Sodexo, a leading provider of food services and facilities management. This collaboration will introduce Kiwibot’s autonomous robots to numerous college campuses across the United States.

New Campus Deployments

Beginning this month, students and faculty at New Mexico State University, Loyola Marymount University, and Gonzaga University will be able to utilize Kiwibot’s services. They can order meals from Sodexo-operated locations on campus and have them delivered by the company’s distinctive robots.

Proven Track Record

This isn’t Kiwibot’s initial foray into the college food delivery market. The robots, intentionally designed to be visually appealing, operate at a speed of approximately two miles per hour. The company initially demonstrated its capabilities at the University of California, Berkeley, completing 150,000 deliveries.

Strategic Partnership with Sodexo

Sodexo serves as the food provider for hundreds of universities nationwide, making this partnership a potentially significant opportunity for Kiwibot. This expansion is crucial as Kiwibot aims to maintain its competitive edge against Starship Technologies, which recently surpassed one million delivery rides.

Why Campuses are Ideal for Autonomous Delivery

University campuses present a favorable environment for startups focused on autonomous technology. Diego Varela Prada, Kiwibot’s Chief Operating Officer, explains that campuses are more receptive to innovative concepts.

Furthermore, the economic factors on a campus generally support more favorable revenue growth compared to business-to-business operations within a city.

Controlled Environment Benefits

Prada also highlighted that campuses offer a more predictable environment than public streets. This is due to reduced complexities related to infrastructure, traffic, and congestion. He shared this insight with TechCrunch.

Seamless Integration with Meal Plans

Students will be able to conveniently use their existing meal plans to order deliveries through the Sodexo Bite+ app. For those without a meal plan, à la carte options are available, including a $2 flat fee plus 10% of the total order cost.

Initial Robot Deployment Numbers

“We are launching with 10 robots at Loyola, 10 at Gonzaga, and 30 at New Mexico State,” Prada stated. “This is merely the initial phase of our expansion.” Kiwibot intends to significantly increase its robot fleet as demand grows, working closely with Sodexo to scale capacity.

Addressing Pandemic-Related Safety Concerns

Many college campuses experienced closures last year due to the pandemic. With the U.S. currently facing a surge in COVID-19 cases, averaging around 100,000 new infections daily, potential disruptions remain a concern.

Prada believes Kiwibot offers a safer alternative for students to obtain food. The company implements a disinfection procedure for its robots between each delivery.

Enhanced Safety and Convenience

“If a student prefers to avoid crowded areas, ordering through Kiwibot and having the food delivered to their dorm or the library is a much safer option,” he explained.

Advancements in Autonomous Technology

Kiwibot’s robots are currently in their fourth generation and are progressing towards Level 4 autonomy, though they presently operate at Level 3. The Society of Automotive Engineers defines both levels as involving self-driving capabilities.

However, Level 3 systems may require human intervention in certain situations, while Level 4 systems are designed to handle all driving tasks independently.

Corner-to-Corner Navigation

“Our ‘corner-to-corner’ feature captures data within indoor spaces and utilizes an algorithm to guide the robot,” Prada clarified. “This system manages navigation around obstacles like cars, pedestrians, pets, and campus personnel.”

Currently, remote operators maintain oversight, switching to ‘corner-to-corner’ mode when necessary and taking control in complex scenarios.

Future Development: Indoor-Outdoor Navigation

Kiwibot’s engineering team is actively developing the ability for robots to seamlessly transition between indoor and outdoor environments. This will enable them to retrieve orders from kitchens, deliver them outside, and then navigate inside buildings to reach specific destinations like dorm rooms or offices.