This fall, Tulane Dining Services added 30 petite, semi-autonomous robots known as Kiwibots to their food delivery service. 

Tulanians can utilize the Kiwibots by placing orders through Dining Services locations using the Everyday ordering app. Once orders are placed, Dining Services staff load meals into the Kiwibots. They roll across campus, R2D2-style, to make deliveries at requested locations — giving a new twist to the phrase “Laissez les bons temps rouler.” John Tarin, head of global operations at Kiwibot, said, “To ensure safe operations on campus, Kiwibot relies on the most 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 (light detection and ranging).” Kiwibot staff monitor the robots from the uptown campus. The robots traverse the campus autonomously except when crossing the street — staff remotely supervise the Kiwibots when they reach a crossroads, to ensure the safety of the community. At the end of the first four weeks on the uptown campus, the Kiwibots delivered 757 orders to the Tulane community.

For more information, visit tulane.it/kiwibots.