How GMU students’ eating habits changed when delivery robots invaded their campus
In the two months since the robots arrived at the Fairfax, Va.-based school, an extra 1,500 breakfast orders have been delivered autonomously, according to Starship Technologies and Sodexo, a company that manages food services for GMU on contract and works closely with the robots.
“Research has shown that up to 88 percent of college students skip breakfast, primarily because of lack of time, but that number is starting to turn around when delivery robots arrive on campus,” Starship Technologies said in a statement released Monday.
“This follows a similar pattern seen at corporate campuses where delivery robots were added,” the statement added, referring to an uptick in breakfast orders.
Each robot is opened using a delivery code and can carry as much as 20 pounds — the equivalent of about three shopping bags of goods, Starship Technologies said.
Two months later, breakfast has replaced dinner as the go-to meal for robot delivery. The question is why.