Campus delivery robots face new challenges and opportunities

A new wave of delivery robots is set to arrive on college campuses this fall, following Starship Technologies' departure in May 2026, which shifted focus to grocery deliveries. Avride now operates on 25 campuses, having added 21 after previously serving 4. Ohio State University, a Grubhub partner, saw nearly 235,000 robot deliveries during the 2025-2026 academic year, using 125 Avride robots. Bowling Green State University recently switched to Avride after five years with Starship. Naidja, a representative, emphasized maximizing deliveries per robot, noting 15 deliveries per day over 12 months is more efficient than fewer deliveries over shorter periods. New U.S. rules may limit foreign-made robots, but these robots continue to gain experience in campus delivery. The expansion of robot delivery highlights automation's growing role in higher education. Grubhub partners with over 360 universities and serves more than 4.5 million students. While the college market offers unique opportunities, challenges remain, including seasonal fluctuations in student presence. As companies like Avride and Starship navigate these dynamics, the future of campus delivery robotics remains an area of significant interest and potential disruption.