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Monday, August 03, 2015

Hitchhiking robot’s cross-country trip in US ends in Philly

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A hitchhiking robot that captured the hearts of fans worldwide met its demise in the U.S.

The Canadian researchers who created hitchBOT as a social experiment told The Associated Press that someone in Philadelphia damaged the robot beyond repair early Saturday, ending its first American tour after about two weeks.

“Sadly, sadly it’s come to an end,” said Frauke Zeller, one of its co-creators.

The kid-size robot set out to travel cross-country after successfully hitchhiking across Canada in 26 days last year and parts of Europe. It’s immobile on its own, relying on the kindness of strangers. Those who picked it up often passed it to other travelers or left it where others might notice it.

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8 comments:

Anonymous said...

The City of Brotherly Love.....

Anonymous said...

Not surprising that someone in Philly would trash it.

Surely some camera caught video of it.

Anonymous said...

It would have been fascinating to have had a video camera in it to record it's interactions with people. I doubt it's "last" interaction, in Philly, would have been much of a surprise to anyone.

Anonymous said...

More like the city of brotherly shove.

Anonymous said...

Figures, just another glimmering example of how we act here in the US. This robot made it across multiple countries but barely lasted a few hours here...

Anonymous said...

Not surprised. Philthydelphia!

Anonymous said...

And we get treated to a beach full of these lovely people every summer. If course the locals say think the worst same way about Marylanders in the OBX

Anonymous said...

4:24 it was only one country and that was canada, if you really want to count it. As for the good people of philly trashing this robot. They did all you morons a favor. wait till the day these things are everywhere watching your every move! Amerika's new police force!