Moravian University has new food delivery option: Robots

Moravian University has new food delivery option: Robots

By Sarah Mueller
August 31, 2022

Moravian College announced it has partnered with Kiwibot, a sidewalk delivery startup, as the Main Street on-campus food delivery provider. (Photo courtesy of Moravian University)

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Moravian University students now can get food and beverages on the Main Street campus in a new way.

Robots will deliver them.

Moravian announced it has partnered with Kiwibot, a sidewalk delivery startup, as the Main Street on-campus food delivery provider.

Students can place an order with their chosen on-campus restaurant, and must use Sodexo’s new mobile app to place orders. The Everyday App can be downloaded from the App Store or the Play Store.

There will be 15 robots operating day and night, five days a week.

Users will get a unique link to track the order, and follow the robot’s location in real-time.

The robots replaced Grubhub as the campus delivery service.

University Chief Information Officer David Brandes said the robots are cool. And the service is more affordable for students.

“Sometimes you have an order for two or three dollars and you’re paying $12 or $13 in fees to have that order delivered to you before you even tip the driver,” Brandes said. “And that person has to make a living and humans are way more expensive than robots in this day and age.

“Moravian and our students are a pretty tech-savvy group, so this partnership with Kiwibot to provide robotic food delivery should be a big hit on campus. We’re excited about the launch and we think students will enjoy seeing the robots whizzing around to deliver them food quickly, but with some unique style.”

Moravian said that to ensure safe operations on campus, Kiwibot relies on 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.

Brandes said that eventually, the program could move beyond the dining options on-campus.

“One of our favorite places around here out on Elizabeth Street is a place called Carl’s (Corner) and they have great cheesesteaks,” he said. “And so we want to get to the point where we have a partnership with Carl’s.”

Brandes said the university also wants to eventually expand the robot delivery service to its South campus location.