Nowadays we are surrounded by robots and not a day goes by when we don’t meet another robot similar to the previous ones: autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), automated guided vehicles (AGVs), articulated robots, humanoids, cobots and hybrids. Now there is another robot that is different from the others. Have you ever heard of HitchBOT? It’s a small robot with a big question: how far can a robot go if it only needs human help?

HitchBOT, which was developed in Canada as part of a social experiment, is not like other robots — it can’t walk or do anything on its own. Instead, it relied on strangers to pick it up and take it from one place to another. The robot had GPS, a camera and a cute personality that made people smile.

The adventure began in 2014 in Canada. HitchBOT travelled all the way from Halifax to British Columbia. Along the way, he made friends, took selfies and shared his journey on social media. People loved helping HitchBOT and he became a symbol of trust and kindness.

But it wasn’t always easy for HitchBOT. In 2015, he was damaged by someone in Philadelphia while travelling across the US, and his journey ended there. This got people talking about whether people can always be trusted. Nevertheless, the story of HitchBOT is mostly positive. It has shown that many people are willing to help — even a robot!

HitchBOT wasn’t just about travelling. It was also about technology and community. It showed that most people are still happy to help others, even if the “other” is a quirky little robot.

What about you? If you saw HitchBOT waiting for a lift, would you stop to help? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Written by Deniz E

Sources

http://www.cbc.ca