Shortly before my second year of college, I received a few orientation and mobility lessons for learning how to navigate with low vision and a blindness cane. These lessons were helpful for learning general travel skills, but I noticed they didn’t get into specifics about navigating college campuses or using university resources available for students with vision loss. One lesson that would have been really helpful is how to navigate with the delivery robots on campus, so I’ve created the College O&M series to share my most-used tips and strategies for learning about this topic and others. Here are my tips for blindness cane users on how to use delivery robots on campus, based on my experience with the Starship robots.
Disclaimer
I am not a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS), and I strongly recommended working with a COMS from the state department for visual impairment or vocational rehabilitation to determine the appropriate mobility solution for individuals. The tips and strategies shared throughout this post are informed by my lived experiences using a blindness cane (white cane) on my college campus.
About my college’s delivery robots
Many colleges and universities partner with third-party companies to operate autonomous delivery robots across campus; my college uses the Starship robots that measure 26.7 inches by 22.4 inches by 21.8 inches, measuring 49.1 inches tall with the attached flagpole. These robots are commonly used to deliver food from dining locations, but may also be used for mail delivery, pharmacy items, or temporary services such as supporting students who are in quarantine.
At my college, the robots operate both during the day and at night and generally travel on sidewalks and common pedestrian routes, similar to bicycles or scooters. Though the robots primarily use autonomous navigation, staff may intervene through remote control when needed, such as during inclement weather, when crossing traffic, or for other complex navigation tasks.
Related links
- College Mailrooms and Low Vision
- Navigating The Dining Hall: College O&M
- Organizing A Dorm Mini Fridge With Low Vision
Helpful accessibility features for delivery robots
Many delivery robots include features intentionally designed to support accessibility and to reduce trip hazards for visually impaired pedestrians. Features I have encountered on delivery robots at my college include:
- Tall flags or poles that extend into the natural line of sight, making robots easier to detect without tripping.
- Audible sounds that signal movement, similar to required noise alerts on electric vehicles.
- Headlights or steady visible lights that make robots easier to spot at night (not flashing lights).
- Optional verbal announcements identifying the robot as it passes nearby. Some robots will play a recorded message identifying themselves if they pass a student, such as “hello, I am a delivery robot!”
- Music or sound cues when the robot is stationary, helping students locate or avoid it.
- Clear labels, numbers, or markings that allow users to confirm they have the correct robot for a delivery.
These features help integrate robots more safely into shared pedestrian spaces, but I have still tripped over robots if they were parked against a white wall or background (the robots themselves are white). I can’t completely rely on the robots to move out of my way; I also have to be aware of my surroundings and make sure I am paying attention to obstacles!
Related links
Can Starship robots avoid blindness canes (white canes)?
Based on direct communication with the Starship robot team and the assistive technology department at my college, robots are trained to detect and avoid blindness canes and similar mobility aids. Students walking with canes generally do not need to step aside to accommodate a robot, as the robot will route around them when possible. If a cane does make contact with a robot, the robot will not be damaged, though it may play an audio message announcing its presence. I do not know if this is the case for other types of autonomous delivery robots, but after a few months on campus, I noticed that the robots would play an audio message when they passed within a few feet of my cane during the day or at night, much to the amusement of my friends and professors who were jealous that I could get the robot to “talk” to me!
Related links
- What To Know About College Assistive Technology Specialists
- Reporting Accessibility Issues: College O&M
Tips for navigating shared pedestrian spaces with campus robots
College campuses already have plenty of access barriers for students with visual impairments, such as crowded sidewalks, intersections without signals, scooters, random objects blocking pathways, and outdoor seating areas. Autonomous robots add another moving element that students will need to plan for, as the robots can reach speeds as high as 3.7 miles per hour. When navigating campus spaces alongside robots, some helpful strategies to keep in mind include:
- Listening for consistent movement patterns, as robots often follow similar routes between dining halls and residence areas. As students become more familiar with the robots, they may also learn about the specific routes robots take or become aware of high-traffic areas where multiple robots are traveling.
- Treating robots like other pedestrians, allowing them to pass while maintaining individual routes of travel.
- Using landmarks such as building edges, grass lines, or tactile pavement rather than adjusting based solely on robot movement patterns.
- Remaining aware that robots may pause suddenly if they detect obstacles or traffic.
Over time, I became accustomed to navigating college campuses with autonomous robots in the same way I learned to adapt to navigating high-traffic pathways or shared bike/scooter lanes. That said, most of the barriers I encounter with delivery robots happen while they are parked in one location for long periods of time (typically outside of buildings) and are not making noise.
Locating the robots for a delivery
When placing an order, the delivery app typically allows users to pin a drop‑off location on a campus map. Choosing a location that is familiar, well‑lit, and away from heavy traffic can make pickup easier. In my experience, selecting a consistent location, such as a walkway near the back of a residence hall, made it easier to identify the robot visually and also locate it independently. When possible, I would choose a location close to my dorm building so that the white robot would contrast against the brick walls in my building.
The robot will not unlock unless the user is standing nearby with the app open, and the app map can be used to verify that the correct robot has arrived. I have not encountered issues with multiple robots arriving at the same exact location simultaneously, though one feature that has been added is the option to have the robot play a song so it is easier to locate; while I haven’t personally used this feature since it was added, my brother mentioned that he could choose from a list of five pop songs for deliveries, and the song selections would change frequently.
Related links
- Building Identification: College O&M
- Dorms and Campus Housing: College O&M
- Navigating Campus Construction: College O&M
What to do if a robot is blocking something
Occasionally, robots may stop in awkward locations due to obstacles, traffic, or navigation challenges. If a robot is stopped in a curb cut or intersection area, I treat this as a signal that it is not safe to cross the street yet. When I noticed a robot was in a curb cut while I was in the process of crossing the street, the robot appeared to move back so that I could safely use the curb cut to get out of the road; this always happened at the same intersection and the robot would move back when detecting my cane from a few feet away. In some cases, the robot may move out of the way once it detects pedestrian movement, as robots generally do not remain parked in one location for long.
The accessibility staff members at my college provided feedback to Starship to make sure the robots did not block curb cuts or accessible routes. That said, there have been several instances at other colleges where students have been trapped in the road due to robots blocking curb cuts, which is incredibly frustrating. Students can also work with Disability Services, ADA coordinators, or assistive technology offices to report accessibility concerns related to robot placement, navigation routes, or delivery locations. If robots present repeated barriers, documentation and reporting can help campuses ensure they are prioritizing humans and their accessibility needs, instead of robots.
Related links
- Tactile Pavement and Accessible Walkways For Visually Impaired
- Ten Things To Know About Going To College With A Blindness Cane
Additional tips for using blindness canes with college robots
- Some places have designated robot areas for each building, such as a dedicated drop-off area. Learning these locations in advance can be helpful for planning deliveries or routes to avoid tripping over parked robots.
- The delivery system may be temporarily taken offline if there is a high volume of orders or due to weather; do not rely on the robots as the only way to access campus services such as dining.
- Visual assistance apps such as Be My Eyes or Aira can help users locate delivery robots on their own (Disclaimer: I previously received free Aira service through a now-defunct program for college students in 2018/2019 and spoke at an Aira-sponsored event in 2018. My college is now an Aira Access location, so students can use Aira free of charge). Learn more about visual assistance apps in All About Visual Assistance Apps For Visually Impaired
- If the robots pose an accessibility issue, contact Disability Services or the assistive technology department to report it. Learn more at Accessibility Issues: Campus O&M and What If I Have To Report Disability Accommodation Violations?
Published June 29, 2020. Updated June 2025