This summertime , one small robotshould have had a big adventure .
It ’s my sad duty to report that the United States adventures ofhitchBOT , the Canadian hitchhiking automaton , have add up to an untimely end , two weeks after setting off for a terminal destination of San Francisco , California .
While hitchBOT had travelled across Canada and Europe coming to no harm , the hitching golem was found vandalise and destroyed beyond mend in Philadelphia this month .
Canadian journalistLauren O’Neiltweeted this pic below of the break golem ’s vestige . Decapitated and with limbs removed , the stiff are a reminder that hitchBOT ’s sight - seeing expeditions were an experiment to see how people would react and interact with a traveling golem in society .
Canada ’s hitchhiking automaton survive just two weeks in US before getting decapitated.http://t.co/802FBRUMho#smhpic.twitter.com/0bJexW3igk
— Lauren O’Neil ( @laurenonizzle)August 2 , 2015
“ HitchBOT ’s trip-up come to an end last night in Philadelphia after having spend a little over two weeks hitchhiking and visiting sites in Boston , Salem , Gloucester , Marblehead , and New York City , ” write David Smith from McMaster University and Frauke Zeller from Ryerson University on the hitchBOTwebsite . “ Unfortunately , hitchBOT was vandalize overnight in Philadelphia ; sometimes bad thing happen to good robot . We know that many of hitchBOT ’s fans will be disappoint , but we need them to be assured that this great experiment is not over . ”
“ For now we will focus on the interrogation “ what can be learned from this ? ” and explore future adventures for robots and mankind . ”
On the forgivingness and kindliness of stranger , hitchBOT traveledover 10,000 kilometers ( 6,213 miles)through Canada andspent 10 daystraveling through Germany to begin with this twelvemonth . This map ( below ) read how far hitchBot made it in his ocean trip across the United States .
From Massachuserts to Philadelphia.hitchBOT .
hitchBOT is survived by a enceinte mob of research worker , friend and supporters .
My trip must come to an remainder for now , but my passion for humans will never blow over . Thanks friend : http://t.co / DabYmi6OxHpic.twitter.com / sJPVSxeawg
— hitchBOT ( @hitchBOT)August 1 , 2015
[ H / T : BBC News ]
