Autonomous Food Delivery Robots Invade Broward

Residents and restaurants have mixed reactions as self-driving bots hit the streets of Fort Lauderdale and Davie

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Automated food delivery robots from companies like Serve Robotics and Starship Technologies have started appearing on the streets and sidewalks of Broward County, Florida. While the robots have been welcomed by some for their convenience and efficiency, others have expressed concerns about their reliability, safety, and potential impact on human delivery drivers. The robots have faced a number of technical issues, including getting stuck, blocking traffic, and even being damaged by passersby. Restaurants have also had mixed reactions, with some embracing the new technology and others preferring to stick with human delivery drivers.

Why it matters

The introduction of autonomous food delivery robots in Broward County represents a significant shift in the local transportation and food delivery landscape. While the robots promise faster and more efficient deliveries, they also raise questions about the impact on human workers, public safety, and the overall reliability of the technology. As more cities consider adopting this new technology, the experiences in Broward County could provide valuable insights and lessons learned.

The details

The autonomous food delivery robots, which are about 3 feet tall and resemble small coolers on wheels, have been deployed by companies like Serve Robotics and Starship Technologies. They are currently operating in Fort Lauderdale, Davie, and parts of Wilton Manors and Dania Beach, with plans to expand the fleet in the coming months. The robots use AI and sensors to navigate the sidewalks and streets, and they are integrated with delivery services like Uber Eats and DoorDash. While the robots have completed the majority of their deliveries without incident, they have also faced a number of technical issues, including getting stuck, blocking traffic, and even being damaged by frustrated customers. Restaurants have had mixed reactions, with some embracing the new technology and others preferring to stick with human delivery drivers due to concerns about food quality and reliability.

  • In December 2025, Serve Robotics began deploying its first 10 robots in Fort Lauderdale.
  • In April 2026, Starship Technologies introduced its robots on the Nova Southeastern University campus in Davie.
  • In the past few months, the robots have been spotted delivering food in pockets of Wilton Manors and Dania Beach.

The players

Serve Robotics

A California-based company that builds the autonomous food delivery robots and partners with Uber Eats for deliveries.

Starship Technologies

A California-based company that makes the autonomous robots used for food deliveries on the Nova Southeastern University campus in Davie.

Ali Kashani

The CEO of Serve Robotics, who explains the company's rationale for launching the robots in Fort Lauderdale.

Zubair Hossain

The customer success manager for Starship Technologies, who oversees the robots on the Nova Southeastern University campus.

Adam Shidlofsky

The co-owner of Mitch's Downtown Bagels in Flagler Village, who has had mixed experiences with the Serve Robotics delivery bots.

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What they’re saying

“We put someone's order in the [robot] once and it rolled away, and then its wheels got stuck on the curb. I'm like, this food my team works hard to prepare is getting rocked back and forth. We don't get to control who picks it up, which is why we prefer humans. I don't want to be a guinea pig for a glitchy robot.”

— Adam Shidlofsky, Co-owner, Mitch's Downtown Bagels (Sun Sentinel)

“There are definitely times when folks aren't a big fan and react a certain way. But they're reliable. They complete 99.8% of all deliveries. And they make the roads less congested, so what goes viral doesn't represent what's happening out there day to day.”

— Ali Kashani, CEO, Serve Robotics (Sun Sentinel)

“If an autonomous order goes wrong, the customer can contact Uber Eats support directly in the app, like they would for any other order.”

— Uber Eats spokesperson (Sun Sentinel)

What’s next

The judge in the case involving a customer who allegedly tried to throw a Serve Robotics robot into the Miami River will decide on Tuesday whether to allow the suspect out on bail.

The takeaway

The introduction of autonomous food delivery robots in Broward County has been a mixed bag, with both benefits and challenges. While the robots promise faster and more efficient deliveries, they have also faced technical issues and raised concerns about public safety and the impact on human workers. As the technology continues to evolve, it will be important for local officials, businesses, and residents to work together to ensure a smooth and responsible integration of these new transportation solutions.