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: 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.