Starships robots deliver food across campus
By Brandon Bocanegra, April 28, 2026
Cal Poly Pomona Enterprises Dining launched a fleet of Starship food delivery robots to the campus community April 6, offering students “meals on six wheels.”
Starship is an autonomous robot food delivery service that will also become the food pickup platform to replace Grubhub in the fall, according to CPP Enterprises Senior Manager of Retail Information Technology Alfred Padilla. Currently 14 robots service the campus, delivering from Takorean, Bric Break, Hibachi-San, Qdoba, Panda Express, Saddles, Subway, Carls Jr., The Patio and Lollicup.
The robots only deliver on campus as of now because they cannot cross South Campus Drive or Temple Avenue, meaning they are currently unavailable to deliver to the University Village or pick up food from Innovation Brew Works. Padilla said CPP Enterprises may be looking to adding those options in the future as well as additional robots.
According to Padilla, CPP Enterprises’ No. 1 concern now and before bringing robots onto the campus is student safety.
“We wanted to see more data and seeing how many Starship deliveries have been done even just this year and the amount of accidents that they’ve had,” Padilla said. “The percentage is extremely low. We decided that it was a safe venture to go forward.”
According to Starship’s official website, each robot is equipped with 12 cameras, radar and ultrasonic sensors that help identify objects like pedestrians and animals. While none have hit any pedestrians, some students have reported the robots bumping into poles or getting stuck on curbs and needing a helping hand.
A photo of a Starship employee loading a robot onto a bike shuttle was posted on the official CPP subreddit April 17. A witness claimed a group of high school students shoved the robot on its side in an attempt to do tricks on and over it, which left it inoperable.
Student interns provide software updates and operating part repairs to the robots at the Starship hub located in the Campus Center Marketplace to ensure they operate smoothly, according to Padilla.
There were more than 100 orders placed using the Starship robots in the first two days of the launch. Bronco Student Center assistant manager Frank Verdugo has noticed the impact on rushes in the BSC with an increase in customer turnaround time and reduced lines.
Verdugo also highlighted the convenience for students who may not have the time or capacity to leave a space to eat.
“Some people might be sick, and it delivers to the dorms, so that’s going to help out,” Verdugo said. “I think it’s going to benefit everyone, especially for the people in class and the people working in offices. It doesn’t disrupt your flow if you’re behind schedule or you’re stacked on homework.”
Students are voicing mixed opinions about robots on social media platforms like Reddit and Instagram, with comments ranging from excitement and praise to criticizing spending money on the program, disdain for the robots and automation anxiety.
Verdugo said current student workers enjoy being able to work with robots, learning how to use new technology and utilizing new procedures on getting food out to customers.
Biology student Elle Convento used the service for the first time April 17 and called it a “pretty good experience” and found the app to be user-friendly.
“Pinning the location for where the little robot has to go is a little difficult, but I think it’s more just user error,” Convento said. “The robot’s cute. (It) gives you some good serotonin watching it come up to you.”
Students can download the Starship app for free on mobile devices and utilize their available Bronco Bucks when placing orders.
“Starship is in support of the CPP Enterprise mission, which is to enhance the university and community experience through optimized solutions and resource generation that empowers students’ success,” Padilla said. “That was our priority in bringing it to the campus, and we believe that it does that on all levels.”
Feature image courtesy of Brandon Bocanegra
