WEATHER ALERT

Snacks on wheels: PepsiCo tests self-driving robot delivery

Advertisement

Advertise with us

NEW YORK - Forget vending machines, PepsiCo is testing a way to bring snacks directly to college students.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Subscribe and receive a limited-edition Free Press branded hat or tote.

Digital Subscription

One year of digital access for only $205*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 03/01/2019 (2761 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

NEW YORK – Forget vending machines, PepsiCo is testing a way to bring snacks directly to college students.

The chip and beverage maker says it will start making deliveries with self-driving robots on Thursday at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California. Students will be able to order Baked Lay’s, SunChips or Bubly sparkling water on an app, and then meet the six-wheeled robot at more than 50 locations on campus.

Other companies have been using self-driving vehicles to deliver food. Last month, supermarket operator Kroger announced it would start delivering groceries in a driverless vehicle from a store in Scottsdale, Arizona.

FILE- In this June 15, 2007, file photo bags of potato chips from PepsiCo's Frito-Lay division are shown in New York. PepsiCo is testing a way to bring snacks directly to college students. The chip and beverage maker says it will start making deliveries with self-driving robots on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif. Students will be able to order Baked Lay’s, SunChips or Bubly sparkling water on an app, and then meet the six-wheeled robot at more than 50 locations on campus. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
FILE- In this June 15, 2007, file photo bags of potato chips from PepsiCo's Frito-Lay division are shown in New York. PepsiCo is testing a way to bring snacks directly to college students. The chip and beverage maker says it will start making deliveries with self-driving robots on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif. Students will be able to order Baked Lay’s, SunChips or Bubly sparkling water on an app, and then meet the six-wheeled robot at more than 50 locations on campus. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

The robots used at the University of the Pacific will move at speeds of up to 6 miles per hour, according to Robby Technologies, which makes the robots. Three workers on the campus will be refilling the robots with food and drinks and replacing the batteries with recharged ones when they go dead.

At first three robots will be used, but then grow to a fleet of five over time. The robots, which weigh 80 pounds and are less than 3 feet tall, drive on their own and stop when someone is in front of it, Robby says.

PepsiCo says it’s testing this way to deliver its snacks because more of its customers want a convenient way to buy them on their phones.

_____

Contact Joseph Pisani at http://twitter.com/josephpisani

This undated photo provided by PepsiCo shows self-driving robots made by Robby Technologies. PepsiCo says it will start making snack deliveries with the robots on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif. Students will be able to order Baked Lay's, SunChips or Bubly sparkling water on an app, and then meet the six-wheeled robot at more than 50 locations on campus. (PepsiCo via AP)
This undated photo provided by PepsiCo shows self-driving robots made by Robby Technologies. PepsiCo says it will start making snack deliveries with the robots on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif. Students will be able to order Baked Lay's, SunChips or Bubly sparkling water on an app, and then meet the six-wheeled robot at more than 50 locations on campus. (PepsiCo via AP)
Report Error Submit a Tip

More Stories

Today’s horoscope

Georgia Nicols 4 minute read Preview

Today’s horoscope

Georgia Nicols 4 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

MOON ALERT: After 9 a.m. today there are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions. The moon is in Capricorn.

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

You are direct, proactive and quick to act. You shouldn’t second-guess anything, especially instructions or orders from authority figures — bosses, parents, teachers, VIPs and even the police. You might misread their intentions? Postpone important decisions.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

Read
2:00 AM CDT

Brown bombs as Bombers blasted

Taylor Allen 7 minute read Preview

Brown bombs as Bombers blasted

Taylor Allen 7 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 9:15 AM CDT

Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Dru Brown took Friday night's ‘Christmas in July’ theme a little too seriously.

He wasn't carrying around a red sack, but he did gift-wrap four interceptions to the Calgary Stampeders in what ended up being a 52-30 loss for the Blue and Gold in front of a sold-out crowd.

The result dropped the Bombers, now 1-3 at home this season, to 4-3. Calgary improved to 3-4 and now have a chance to win the tiebreaker when the two sides meet for a final time on Oct. 10 at Princess Auto Stadium.

“Yeah, not nearly good enough...You certainly don't want to go get into a track meet against a good offence like that,” said Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea.

Read
Updated: Yesterday at 9:15 AM CDT

Sked dread a summer bummer for mom

Maureen Scurfield 5 minute read Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I’m a working mom in my 50s and I love Winnipeg in the summer — all the cultural festivals, concerts and crazy events it has to offer.

So I told my 20-something kids I would come out to our lake cabin for only a couple of June and July weekends, but then join them out there with their dad as well for an unbroken two-week stretch in late-August.

However, I worry I’ll just be cooking and organizing while I’m out there! My bossy eldest daughter made up a cooking schedule, so everybody has a special dinner where they have cook, organize people to bring things, run the barbecue and entertain with a group game afterwards. It’s going well for July, but nobody has signed up for duties in August when we’ll all be out there to enjoy the last of the summer.

I spent summer after summer covering that entire duty calendar for my kids, so it’d be nice to actually relax when I’m out there later this year. So, now what?

Trailblazer returns to share success, inspire next generation

Grace Penner 6 minute read Preview

Trailblazer returns to share success, inspire next generation

Grace Penner 6 minute read Yesterday at 5:14 PM CDT

Starstruck kids and fans zigzagged throughout the rink, anxiously waiting to get an autograph from Kati Tabin and to see their role model on the same side of the glass.

Tabin, Montreal Victoire defender and Team Canada silver medallist, on Saturday came home to the rink where it all began, the Oakbank Community Club. She brought the PWHL championship trophy, the Walter Cup, won in her third season with the club, as well as her 2026 Milan Cortina Olympic medal.

The arena was packed to the brim with fans from all over coming to see Tabin — the local player who made history in women’s hockey. Hundreds of enthusiasts of all ages lined up with their Victoire or Team Canada merchandise, some waiting over two hours to see their idol.

Eight-year-old Loxley Cierzan came with her mother, Ainsley, and other family members to meet the one and only Tabin. Cierzan has loved seeing other girls grace the ice and play the competitive sport she adores. When the PWHL takeover stopped in Winnipeg in March, she not only got to watch the game but also a practice beforehand where Tabin signed her Victoire hat.

Read
Yesterday at 5:14 PM CDT

Puzzles Palace

1 minute read Monday, Jul. 13, 2026

To solve our puzzles, please subscribe with this special offer: |

Mayor tight-lipped about firefighter charged with disobeying protection order while on job

Malak Abas 4 minute read Preview

Mayor tight-lipped about firefighter charged with disobeying protection order while on job

Malak Abas 4 minute read Friday, Jul. 24, 2026

Mayor Scott Gillingham said he can’t talk about the case of a firefighter accused of breaching a protection order while on the job this month — a man who has been jailed twice in the past 10 years for harassing two women.

Christopher Goethals was arrested July 21 after breaching a protection order requiring that he not come within 200 metres of a protected person.

Police said Goethals, 59, was in full uniform, driving a Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service fleet vehicle, and was performing “modified duties” on the job when he breached the order.

When asked about Goethals being able to serve as a firefighter under those circumstances, Gillingham called it a human resources issue. He said he wouldn’t get into specifics, but would “look into this matter further.”

Read
Friday, Jul. 24, 2026