UNLV’s food delivery robots would travel to off-campus restaurants if proposed ordinance passes

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (FOX5) – Food delivery robots that have been roaming the UNLV campus for more than a year could soon travel to off-campus restaurants to pick up orders if a regulation to do so is eventually passed.

The proposal is set to go before the Clark County Commission on Aug. 20. FOX5 told you the ordinance has been in the works for nearly a year, after the passage of a state law in 2023 gave the green light to robotic deliveries.

Students and staff across the large urban campus have asked for more options to save students long walks in the heat, time while working, and late-night walks fearful of being hit by pedestrians.

The proposed regulation requires robots to comply with various safety requirements, including:

• Maximum cruising speed of 5 MPH
• No delivery of cannabis or alcohol
• 50 robots per company, per university
• Passage on wider sidewalks to allow pedestrians and wheelchairs to pass through

Robotics company Starship, which manages the current robots on campus, sent FOX5 the following statement about its intention to expand at UNLV and its safety protocols:

“We have a lot of demand from off-campus students who would like to have food delivered by Starship. We offer autonomous robot deliveries to more than 50 campuses across the U.S. and have expanded the service to several of them off-campus. If approved, we will be able to deliver from on-campus restaurants, allowing these students to enjoy the same convenience as on campus.

Starship’s global fleet of 2,000 robots cross 150,000 streets every day. Our robots can cross curbs and use a variety of sensors and cameras to comply with pedestrian safety rules. Safety is our top priority, so we use marked crosswalks and only cross the street when pedestrian lights allow it.

We are excited about the opportunity to expand our presence in the Las Vegas area and make life more convenient for students living off campus.”

FOX5 asked Chairman Tick Segerblom about the safety of robots crossing busy streets like Maryland Parkway and Tropicana Avenue.

The big problem will be crossing the main roads and having someone press the button. They say they have figured that out, but the proof will show,” Segerblom said.

If the ordinance passes and the buildout goes well, robots could one day make deliveries throughout the Las Vegas Valley, Segerblom said. “The university is great for many reasons. Let’s start with a small step,” he said.

The regulation could come into force approximately two weeks after its adoption.

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