USA – The American multinational food and snack company, PepsiCo has launched a fleet of autonomous robots to deliver snacks and beverages to students at the University of the Pacific in California.
Students will be able to get their favorite snack or beverage from PepsiCo’s Hello Goodness portfolio of brands, delivered by a snackbot, the outdoor, self-driving robot.
The company has rolled out the new fleet through a collaboration with Bay Area-based Robby Technologies, a developer of most complete self-driving robots for last-mile delivery.
The Hello Goodness snackbots are said to be the first from a major food and beverage company in the United States, featuring a convenient way of delivering a range of quality snacks to the students.
“We’re thrilled to launch our Hello Goodness autonomous delivery snackbots and reimagine college snacking for the future,” said Scott Finlow, Vice President Innovation and Insights, PepsiCo Foodservice.
“PepsiCo has a unique opportunity to better serve today’s ambitious college students, by joining together the power of the Hello Goodness portfolio with our expertise in design and equipment innovation.”
The technology is targeting students seeking quality snacks that brings along nutritional benefits while on the go, given their tight schedules and busy lifestyles.
Hello Goodness snackbots delivers a range of products including Smartfood Delight, Baked Lay’s, SunChips, Pure Leaf Tea, bubly, LIFEWTR and Starbucks Cold Brew.
PepsiCo said they are user-friendly and fun, meeting the growing demand for healthy snacking and livelihood.
People from the University of Pacific can order their food and drinks from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. via the snackbot App, to be delivered to more than 50 designated areas across the campus.
The robotic cars cover 20 miles on a single charge and are equipped with camera and headlights that allow it to see and navigate carefully in full darkness or rain, as well as all-wheel drive capabilities for handling curbs and steep hills.
“We’re thrilled to welcome snackbot to our campus, along with its convenient and nourishing options,” said Matt Camino, Director of e-Commerce at University of the Pacific Stockton.
“This innovative technology from PepsiCo is enhancing campus life for our students, staff and faculty alike, who have embraced this new way of snacking from PepsiCo.”