Armed only with conversation software, the machine lasted just two weeks relying on the kindness of strangers to forward its journey. The US proved too much despite HitchBOT successfully traversing Canada and parts of Europe in 2014.
However, there may be a happy ending yet. Not willing to let robot violence scar its city, hackers and makers in Philadelphia are reaching out to the HitchBOT team to offer new life to the fallen Canadian after hearing about the robot violence.
"We'll say that at this moment, if we get the OK from the creators to repair or replace the needed parts for HitchBOT, we'll be happy to do so," wrote Georgia Guthrie, executive director for a local makerspace called The Hacktory. "If not, we understand... and we may just build ourselves a HitchBot2 to send along on its journey. We feel it's the least we can do to let everyone, especially the Robot community, know that Philly isn't so bad."
Perhaps one day they may become known to all robotkind as "Good Philadelphians."
Previously: The Hitchhiking Robot Experiment Did Not Do So Well
(Score: 1) by Ethanol-fueled on Wednesday August 05 2015, @12:55AM
Hahaha ga-hyuck ga-hyuck HAWWWWWWWWWW!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 05 2015, @02:38AM
Are you choking? Quick! Someone do the Heimlich maneuver!
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Wednesday August 05 2015, @08:38AM
Pennsylvania as a state has cities with strange qualities. Pittsburgh is a beautiful, interesting town with good food, but everyone walks around like they're on eggshells; it was exactly like NYC after 9/11, with everyone handling each other with kid gloves. It's like they suffered some terrible cataclysm and are still shellshocked. Philly, too, is a beautiful city, again, with good food, but there's an ineffable churlishness. They have a serious chip on their shoulder, but you have no idea why.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 2) by Farkus888 on Wednesday August 05 2015, @01:55PM
Rudeness and niceness are both contagious. Having been to both many times Pittsburgh is nice, philly is rude. It isn't eggshells, more a variation of Southern hospitality.
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Wednesday August 05 2015, @02:40PM
Whatever the cause, it's a real shame. Philly is beautiful with a fine heritage. It seems like a place that could be salvaged, but how do you stage an intervention with an entire major city? "Hey, guys, we love your city but can you not be a sack of dicks? 'Cause it really makes everyone not want to be around you or even acknowledge you exist." And that last bit is quite true, because there is no other major city in America that has such a non-presence in the national mind.
Washington DC delenda est.