As the University of South Carolina prepares for the 2026-27 academic year, exciting new advancements in technology are set to enhance the campus experience by improving how students park, shop, dine and navigate the university.
For many USC students, scanning into residence halls and paying for breakfast in the morning will start with nothing more than a phone or smartwatch. Beginning in Fall 2026, students, faculty and staff will gain access to the new Mobile CarolinaCard, allowing them to unlock buildings, check out books, pay for meals, access CarolinaCash and even use printing services without carrying a physical ID card.
As students drive through campus, technology is also simplifying the parking experience. Students searching for available parking can use the ParkUSC+ app, a platform that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to estimate parking lot occupancy in real time. By analyzing historical parking patterns, crowdsourced activity and geofenced movement data, the system can provide more accurate information about where spaces are available.
The technology becomes more effective as additional data is collected, helping USC’s Parking and Transportation department better understand campus-wide usage trends. AI and machine learning can also operate directly on a user’s mobile device to detect when a driver parks or leaves a space in real time.
For students with parking-related questions, support will also become more accessible through an AI-powered phone agent available 24/7. While traditional phone support from staff will remain available, the campus community will also be able to receive immediate assistance with permits, citations, visitor parking, shuttle schedules and transportation services through AI. The system can also direct users to self-service resources, assist with payment and appeal questions and transfer urgent concerns, such as safety issues or gate malfunctions, directly to staff when necessary.
“ParkUSC+, powered by ParkZen and customized for the University of South Carolina, is transforming how students, faculty and staff navigate campus parking. As the platform expands, additional features will support transit and broader mobility options across campus.”
By lunchtime, students are likely to encounter even more advanced technological systems.
At campus dining locations, Carolina Food Co. will utilize AI-enabled sensors to help students track dining hall occupancy levels before they arrive. The sensors do not use cameras, batteries or collect personally identifiable information. Instead, they anonymously scan wireless signals to estimate occupancy in real time.
Machine learning models process the data by filtering outside signals, removing duplicates and translating movement into accurate space utilization metrics. For students, the result is shorter wait times and a more efficient dining experience.
At the same time, new autonomous food delivery robots will travel across campus sidewalks delivering meals between classes. The compact robots use computer vision, onboard sensors and machine learning models to safely navigate around pedestrians, avoid obstacles and complete deliveries with minimal human involvement.
Unlike current systems that rely heavily on cloud computing, the updated robots will use edge-based AI technology that processes information directly on the device itself. Drawing from millions of miles of real-world operation, the robots continuously improve their safety, reliability and navigation efficiency. The result is a convenient and sustainable delivery option that reduces wait times while giving students greater flexibility throughout the day.
In 2027, students will also begin seeing autonomous convenience stores on campus, introducing a more seamless retail experience powered by AI and automation. These stores will feature cashier-less scanning technology, computer vision systems that track items in real time and smart inventory tools that automatically monitor stock levels and purchasing trends.
Rather than waiting in checkout lines, students will be able to enter the store, select their items and leave while purchases are processed automatically in the background. Predictive analytics will also help dining services adjust product offerings based on demand patterns, improving product availability while reducing waste and operational inefficiencies.
“Students will experience a faster, more convenient retail environment that aligns
with their daily routines, no lines, intuitive purchasing and consistent product availability.
Beyond convenience, these stores introduce students to emerging retail and supply
chain technologies they are likely to encounter in their careers. Reinforcing how
AI can enhance customer experience, efficiency and sustainability.”
From parking and dining to retail and transportation, advanced technologies are becoming increasingly integrated into campus life at USC with the goal of trying to improve the student experience by making university processes more efficient. While many of these applications will operate quietly behind the scenes, together they will work to create a campus experience that is faster, smarter and more connected for students every day.
“These technologies directly support USC’s goals around career readiness, innovation, operational excellence and student experience,” says Fortune. “They position the university as a forward-looking campus with a commitment to continuous improvement and preparing students to engage with and lead in a rapidly evolving, AI-enabled economy.”