Autonomous technology startup Avride announced on Thursday, January 30, that it has partnered with food delivery giant Grubhub to deploy its robots on college campuses across the United States.
The partnership aims to capitalize on the growing demand for autonomous delivery solutions, particularly in the wake of the pandemic. Colleges and universities have been testing sidewalk delivery robots to address labour shortages, reduce costs, and minimize reliance on cars for deliveries.
Avride’s initial fleet of 100 robots is already operational at Ohio State University, where it plans to introduce its next-generation models. The university has partnered with other robotics startups, including Cartken, and now relies exclusively on robot deliveries.
“College campuses offer the perfect environment for autonomous delivery,” said Avride CEO Dmitry Polishchuk. “With their high density of orders and relatively small geographic area, campuses are where robots can truly shine.”
Polishchuk noted that Avride has seen significant interest and demand for its robots on US campuses. The company is part of a growing trend of autonomous technology startups partnering with ride-hailing and delivery companies to commercialize robotic food delivery.
In October, Avride announced a partnership with Uber to provide food deliveries and robotaxi services. Founded in 2017, Avride has completed over 200,000 deliveries across five countries. The company was previously part of Yandex’s self-driving division but separated last year following corporate restructuring.
