{"id":23475,"date":"2025-10-22T00:00:10","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T08:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wou.edu\/westernhowl\/?p=23475"},"modified":"2025-10-22T15:27:16","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T23:27:16","slug":"dax-robots-mia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wou.edu\/westernhowl\/dax-robots-mia\/","title":{"rendered":"Dax robots MIA"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Graphic of Dax with love hearts | Graphic by Addison Watts<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Oct 22 2025 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor<\/span><\/p>\n

Dax food delivery robots, often remembered for their clunky white frames and expressive LED eyes, have since disappeared as a food delivery service on campus after a nearly five-year run.<\/span><\/p>\n

But what happened to Dax robots, and where did they go?<\/span><\/p>\n

Dax robots were first implemented on campus shortly after the coronavirus pandemic because students didn\u2019t have access to the dining hall to get food. For this reason, Campus Dining utilized Dax to deliver food to students on campus to follow pandemic guidelines.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ultimately, Dax delivery robots left campus last June because Dax Corporation ended its contract with Western. The reasoning behind this was likely that they weren\u2019t getting enough sales from students on campus. After the pandemic ended, most students, especially last academic year, just preferred to go into Valsetz Dining Hall rather than get food delivered to their building. Additionally, the company increased the price of deliveries to $5, against Campus Dining recommendations. Campus Dining tried to communicate that with students living on campus, it needed to be an affordable delivery system, but the company still wanted to increase the price to earn revenue. This is also partially why the partnership between Western Campus Dining and Dax ended.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Another big question up for speculation by students was how Dax robots were controlled. When Dax first came to campus, the company programmed mapping, which is essentially a GPS. Dax had an electronic brain of sorts that this GPS tracking was programmed into, and Valsetz had GPS receivers on the roof. The company was also able to control Dax robots remotely, so if they fell over or got stuck, they could attempt to solve the issue without coming to campus.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Campus Dining has not yet switched to a new delivery system because it would have to go through a third party like Dax Corporation. It\u2019s also important to Campus Dining that whatever system they choose in the future, if any, is affordable to students. As of right now, though, there is no delivery method in place. Jane Cameron, the director of Campus Dining, also added that there isn\u2019t really a need for a new delivery system right now. She explained that Western is such a small campus, and increasingly has many dining location options, like Valsetz and the Summit, that students can visit a short walk away from their campus residence. With the new meal swipe system, many students also prefer to go in so they can load up with all they can carry rather than rely on a delivery system.<\/span><\/p>\n

While Dax was still on campus, it was somewhat of a mystery to students, or an icon of sorts; many had heard different stories and lore about Dax. A big rumor many students reported was that Dax robots had the potential to make heart eyes at them \u2014 this was proven to be true, yet students weren\u2019t sure if this was done through some sort of hand motion or voice command. Similarly, students believed their eyes changed based on the holiday, such as how they would make pumpkin eyes during Halloween. One student reports seeing a Dax robot slam into the window outside of Cafe Allegro, which caused its head to fully fall off. Students had commonly seen Dax robots getting stuck around campus, one of these times being when one was crossing the sidewalk from the Grove to the Werner University Center and got stuck in the divot because there was a giant rain puddle. This caused it to turn on hazard lights.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are also reportedly many relatable stories of students getting into a standoff of sorts with a Dax robot, in which they tried to get around Dax, but it blocked them from walking. Dax robots also often got stuck in random spots and needed to wait for a staff member to come to the rescue. Rumors also spread that there was someone in the basement of Campus Dining controlling Dax, so they were intentionally doing all of these things. Another student said that they once flipped a Dax robot off, and it made sad eyes at them. Some students even felt targeted, in that Dax robots would go out of their way to run into them. Another notable report was that a Dax robot allegedly went up to a student putting up posters with information about a controversial political topic and shook its head while making a sad sound.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

All in all, Dax robots have since disappeared from campus. While students have discussed many outlandish stories and allegations surrounding them, few can be fully proven true, and it\u2019s up to students to determine for themselves what to believe and what not to in regard to Dax. What can be confirmed is that Dax Corporation no longer contracts with Western, and Campus Dining is leaning into in-person dining options around campus.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Contact the author at <\/span>howlnews@mail.wou.edu<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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