Robots to the rescue.

[imwjl]

When my daughter's campus - Wisconsin - was shut down the university still housed students who were stranded, and some still are because of travel bans or economic circumstances.

I just learned the Starship robots that are on campus as a test and prototype are being used to serve the students and help with the isolation scenario.

They've been a source of jokes and criticism over the past year. Part of testing in the northern climate was how do they handle snow and my daughter has sent video of stuck robots.

There's been other good news from campus such as virus related research, and the hospital and clinic system is onboard with the research and use of antibodies from recovered patients. On the whole it's nice to be in the shadows of a major university. Many times in its history the institution has contributed to things that have made our world better.

[frankmcr]

Originally Posted by imwjl

When my daughter's campus - Wisconsin - was shut down the university still housed students who were stranded, and some still are because of travel bans or economic circumstances.

I just learned the Starship robots that are on campus as a test and prototype are being used to serve the students and help with the isolation scenario.

They've been a source of jokes and criticism over the past year. Part of testing in the northern climate was how do they handle snow and my daughter has sent video of stuck robots.

There's been other good news from campus such as virus related research, and the hospital and clinic system is onboard with the research and use of antibodies from recovered patients. On the whole it's nice to be in the shadows of a major university. Many times in its history the institution has contributed to things that have made our world better.

Cool, but where are the laser cannons?

[Tony Burns]

They must have aliens ( very small ones ) driving those things-

[Bob Womack]

I'd be interested to hear what exactly they are doing. Big Mac, small fry, Diet Coke?


Bob

[imwjl]

Originally Posted by Bob Womack

I'd be interested to hear what exactly they are doing. Big Mac, small fry, Diet Coke?


Bob

They're delivering food service items to the students stranded on campus, and what I understand are two dorms not closed. One dorm is dedicated to hospital staff now so they can reduce risk of spreading to their families, and have a place to sleep relative to long shifts or being on call.

There are news articles over the past year and academic year for sure about these Starship robots on a few campuses. The core mission has been serve the food and dining hall operations in Madison. My daughter said with a friend they tried it once when weather was bad and they were in a crunch for time.

They've been the brunt of jokes such as video of one stuck in snow, but also in the news were they were hiring on campus in the area that monitors them and other positive stuff.

On McDonalds the one that was right next to campus in my day is gone, one a few blocks away still serves a lot of students. My understanding is current crop of students has tended to like healthier choices overall and McDonalds more for treats or in a hurry.

When this all started I doubt many or maybe any thought they'd be tools the way they are right now. Heck, how they hold up to all the cleaning will probably help the overall testing and learning.

To me the idea of using the robots to help prevent spread of disease and the dedicating a dorm for Covid-19 hospital staff and serving it with the robots is a good idea. I was also pleased to read all the campus is doing for students who've been stranded.

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by frankmcr

Cool, but where are the laser cannons?

Toilet roll launcher tubes might be more useful

Seriously what a great idea and opportunity to test a broad a spectrum of possible functions GOOD for them

[Bob Womack]

Originally Posted by imwjl

They're delivering food service items to the students stranded on campus, and what I understand are two dorms not closed. One dorm is dedicated to hospital staff now so they can reduce risk of spreading to their families, and have a place to sleep relative to long shifts or being on call.

Great! Not just a novelty.


Bob

[imwjl]

Originally Posted by Bob Womack

Great! Not just a novelty.


Bob

You'll find these same Starship robots have been deployed to a few campuses in the country. Some stuff about them (news, talk, social media, pundits) been willful and spiteful ignorance but it seems positive on the whole. I don't think the naysayers have a chance. Advances in engineering, automation and technology have rolled along my entire life.

To me it seems like testing these on campuses is perfect. It's been high level learning and student jobs. It's smart they both dedicated a dorm to hospital staff working Covid-19 and are using the machines to make the food service system safer at the moment.

[reeve21]

I rarely go the the grocery store (my wife enjoys all forms of shopping and has a half a dozen she frequents weekly)... but these are strange times.

Imagine my surprise when a robot came beeping up behind me in the produce section.

The sad part is I couldn't figure out what function it was serving.

I should just stay in my analog cave, I guess.

[sayheyjeff]

Did they participate on Tuesday? (Apologies if that is too close to the DMZ).

Jeff

[archerscreek]

Ha. Looks like State Street. I graduated from UW and UW Law. But more importantly, I bought my first mandolin from Spruce Tree Music, not too far (bike ride) from where those robots are.

[Glennwillow]

Cool! My dad got his Master's Degree on the GI Bill from the University of Wisconsin.

Pretty cute little robots!

- Glenn

[Kerbie]

That's great... they are cute. Been there many times, but never saw it looking like that.

[imwjl]

Originally Posted by archerscreek

Ha. Looks like State Street. I graduated from UW and UW Law. But more importantly, I bought my first mandolin from Spruce Tree Music, not too far (bike ride) from where those robots are.

Spruce Tree is small but a bit of an institution for some of us. I got my first to me true quality guitar there - a Larrivee. It's near what was the more affordable student slums where I lived but now is getting upscale infill and re-do.

Originally Posted by Glennwillow

Cool! My dad got his Master's Degree on the GI Bill from the University of Wisconsin.

Pretty cute little robots!

- Glenn

My dad was one of the many who benefitted from the GI bill. Classic American Dream. Poor family with no formal education => WWII vet => then business followed by law degree combined with being in the reserves. Now with a child doing well there and my own WI degree I fully understand the way my dad felt about the institution.

Originally Posted by Kerbie

That's great... they are cute. Been there many times, but never saw it looking like that.

Those robots showed up late last summer. There's always neat stuff on campus but it is easy to take it for granted.

I've been more in tune because if you know the campus, one of my kids still in high school has twice been selected/hired for the young student jobs at the boathouse, and my daughter who had a lot of college options chose WI even though it's in our back yard. In state tuition plus being a truly good campus.

My high school kid with a job on campus does a 16.8 mi round trip bike ride for work and goes where the robots do.

You also see really neat stuff by the engineering school.

If you sort of know the campus, the robots have been all over. It seems like two fleets centered around the main dining areas. Right now a dorm closest to the hospital is repurposed for staff doing COVID-19 care. I'm sure they didn't think robots would do this service when it started but it's innovative thinking in my mind.

[Otterhound]

Just thought . Who/what loaded them ? Is what loaded them sterile ? Are these robots transferring disease ridden article across the campus ?