Autonomous expertise startup Avride stated on Thursday it has partnered with meals supply firm Grubhub to deploy its robots on faculty campuses throughout the USA.
Firms and faculties started testing sidewalk supply robots after the pandemic began, aiming to handle labor shortages, reduce prices, and cut back dependence on vehicles for deliveries.
Avride’s first fleet of 100 robots is lively at Ohio State College, the place it additionally plans to introduce its next-generation fashions, the startup stated.
The college additionally makes use of robots from different startups corresponding to Cartken and now completely depends on robotic deliveries.
“Campuses are virtually supreme environments for introducing automation in supply. They’re comparatively small areas, with a excessive density of orders, that’s the place robots shine probably the most proper now,” Avride CEO Dmitry Polishchuk instructed Reuters.
Polishchuk added that the corporate has seen sturdy curiosity and demand for robots on U.S. campuses.
Firms corresponding to Avride and Serve Robotics have been cementing partnerships with ride-hailing and supply startups to commercialize robotic meals supply.
In October, Avride stated it will companion with Uber and its supply unit for meals deliveries and robotaxi companies.
Austin, Texas-based Avride, which has already made 200,000 deliveries throughout 5 international locations, was based in 2017. The startup was beforehand a part of the self-driving division of Russian firm Yandex, from which it separated final yr following company restructuring.
