To help during the pandemic, Bowling Green State University is sending food delivery robots beyond campus

To boost food access during the COVID-19 pandemic, delivery robots deployed by Bowling Green State University’s dining team have begun making deliveries outside of campus.

The university’s fleet of 40 robots is delivering from multiple on-campus concepts, including Dunkin’ and Panda Express, to serve those in the larger Bowling Green, Ohio, community.

The expansion went into effect on April 22 and has included deliveries to first responders.

Photograph courtesy of Bowling Green State University 

“Because of our strong partnership with the city, the university is honored to now offer expanded robot delivery service as another option to residents during this unprecedented time,” Michael Paulus, director of BGSU Dining, said in a statement.

Though delivery robots were initially debuted on college campuses to answer diners’ growing call for convenience, dining teams at the University of Wisconsin and elsewhere have recently leaned on them to ensure contactless food distribution as social distancing protocols endure.

BGSU Dining, which is run by Chartwells, first introduced robot delivery in March.