• Grubhub, a US-based online food delivery and subsidiary of Just Eat Takeaway, has partnered with Cartken, a technology startup specializing in self-driving artificial intelligence (AI)-powered robotics and delivery operations, to introduce delivery bots to college campuses.

• These delivery bots will operate on college grounds on pavement, crosswalks, and pedestrian paths without human guidance using AI and camera-based navigation and mapping technology. However, a human override option will be available. The bots are built to handle weather such as rain and snow and can travel up to 3 miles per hour.

• A pilot was carried out at Ohio State University during the spring, and the company expects to fully roll out this technology during the fall.

<ul><li> Analyst QuickTake: In August 2021 , Grubhub partnered with a Russian company to offer autonomous delivery vehicles at Ohio State University. Grubhub subsequently ended the partnership to explore the US-based service provider options. Meanwhile, in May 2022, GrubHub’s competitor Uber Eats also launched a pilot of autonomous delivery bots in Los Angeles in partnership with Serve Robotics, a robotic sidewalk delivery startup that is an Uber spinout, and Motional, an autonomous vehicle technology company.<ul>