Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) and mobile food ordering platform AtYourGate this week introduced a rolling droid to deliver food and beverages to passengers at their gate as part of a pilot program to enhance contactless food ordering in Terminal 1.
The rolling droid, called a gita, uses visual sensing technology to follow the AtYourGate delivery staff member to reach customers at their gate or elsewhere in Terminal 1. The gita can carry a hefty order of up to 40 pounds in its cargo bin.
“There is convenience and safety for customers to be able to order food from their phones or laptops, and within 15 to 30 minutes, the gita rolls up and opens its cargo doors for the customers to grab their order,” said Eric Johnson, director of commercial management and airline affairs for the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC), which operates MSP. “It’s fun and whimsical, but there is also a purpose behind the technology for customers to feel more confident in avoiding queue lines and having their order delivered.”
MSP is the fourth AtYourGate U.S. airport to launch the delivery droid, which is manufactured by Piaggio Fast Forward. It is part of MSP ASAP, which launched late last year at the airport in partnership with both AtYourGate and Grab and lets passengers order from 16 food venues as well as North Loop Market, which offers packaged food, drinks, electronics and travel accessories.
