It all began July 27th as Hitch-Bot, a project with success in Canada – Germany and the Netherlands, embarked on an impressive trip across the United States.
The Plan, Travel from Massachusetts across the United States to San Francisco and along the way stop in great United States treasures such as Times Square, Mount Rushmore and even the Grand Canyon with other landmarks suggested along the way.
The goal for this 3ft 25pound “robot” was, and I repeat, was to head across the states with the help of the generosity of people. Ride’s and Electrical Outlets would help take the HitchBot in this journey across the country.
Sadly, on the 1st of August – HitchBot’s journey across the US came to an end with this message posted on the HitchBit twitter feed
“Oh dear, my body was damaged, but I live on back home and with all my friends. I guess sometimes bad things happen to good robots! My trip must come to an end for now, but my love for humans will never fade. Thank you to all my friends.”
HitchBot was vandalized and left for dead, his head and limbs pulled off – reminiscent of the fate of C-3PO in The Empire Strikes Back a grisly photo was posted on Canadian Journalist Lauren O’Neil twitter feed
A message from the family was posted on the website for Hitchbox
hitchBOT’s trip came to an end last night in Philadelphia after having spent a little over two weeks hitchhiking and visiting sites in Boston, Salem, Gloucester, Marblehead, and New York City. Unfortunately, hitchBOT was vandalized overnight in Philadelphia; sometimes bad things happen to good robots. We know that many of hitchBOT’s fans will be disappointed, but we want them to be assured that this great experiment is not over. For now we will focus on the question “what can be learned from this?” and explore future adventures for robots and humans.
We have no interest in pressing charges or finding the people who vandalized hitchBOT; we wish to remember the good times, and we encourage hitchBOT’s friends and fans to do the same
Hopefully next time, Hitchbox can start out in Arizona