I N T H E 239
Innovation
Robo-aided Refreshment FGCU adds autonomous food delivery options By Therese McDevitt
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Florida Gulf Coast University launched autonomous food delivery on campus, offering students a futuristic convenience with waived delivery fees throughout the 2025–26 academic year.
dining spots — Einstein Bros. Bagels, Dunkin’ and the new SG Market — and have food delivered directly to residence halls, academic buildings and the library. The robots operate during the same hours as the dining venues they serve. The university plans to activate 20 more robots this semester and expand service to 12 additional on-campus food options.
Student leaders push innovation
Student Body President Gianna Ihuoma, a junior from Missouri majoring in business management and political science, said the delivery program adds a layer of ease and efficiency to campus life. “I think, overall, it will elevate the student experience by just helping with accessibility,” Ihuoma said at a media event unveiling the robots. “If you’re
G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S
Kevin Bires
If Judy Jetson were enrolled at Florida Gulf Coast University this fall, she’d feel right at home watching her lunch or dinner zip across campus via a compact delivery robot. The fictional teen from the 1960s cartoon classic “The Jetsons,” set in a futuristic world filled with flying cars and multitasking machines, would recognize the convenience of a dorm fridge-sized robot cruising down sidewalks with food in tow. This summer, FGCU introduced robotic food delivery through a partnership with Starship Technologies. The program, led by FGCU Student Government, launched with 10 autonomous delivery robots and is bringing high-tech dining convenience to campus. Students, faculty and staff can place orders through the Grubhub app from three on-campus