HitchBOT - Hitch-hiking Robot Meets Untimely End in Philadelphia
 |
| The Independent |
Oh dear, my body was damaged, but I live on with all my friends. Sometimes bad things happen to good robots! #hitchBOTinUSA
— hitchBOT (@hitchBOT) August 1, 2015
What you see above was the final active Tweet posted by 'HitchBOT', the much loved hitch-hiking robot which had, up until last week, been working his way across the world by grace of the kindness of strangers. The immobile droid moved around by simply sitting at the side of the road and politely asking passers by to carry or drive him as far as they were able, regaling them with interesting pre-recorded anecdotes across the way. Last summer he spent a month travelling across Canada, amassing over 45,000 followers on Twitter and over 20,000 on Instagram.During the voyage an onboard camera snapped photos every 20 minutes and followers were kept up to date on his movements via a GPS tracker. He attended a wedding, logged some time with a heavy metal band and during a brief jaunt to Europe, had his portrait painted. His ridiculously adorable appearance and friendly attitude also made him really popular with kids. The whole initiative was meant as a sort of social experiment about the brighter side of human nature. Which makes what happened next all the more depressing.
#hitchBOT bagged 1st bucket list item! Started #thewave in our box @ Fenway #OnToTheNextOne @hitchBOT #hitchBOTinUSA pic.twitter.com/JzD7Au5PPX
— Hill Holliday (@hillholliday) July 25, 2015
2 weeks ago he embarked upon what should have been an epic voyage across the USA. He started in Boston, attending a baseball game at Fenway Park just days after setting off. He had aimed to move all the way across to San Francisco, but on Saturday, just outside Philadelphia, he was beset by vandals and decapitated. The body was left dumped at the scene of the crime, but the head (which contains the location-transmitting battery and memory data) was taken. It remains missing, presumed sad.
My trip must come to an end for now, but my love for humans will never fade. Thanks friends: http://t.co/DabYmi6OxH pic.twitter.com/sJPVSxeawg
— hitchBOT (@hitchBOT) August 1, 2015
Press images of HitchBOT's wrecked remains have cropped up on a few news sites but creator Frauke Zeller has refrained from posting them on any of the bot's social media accounts for fear of further upsetting his younger fans. Zeller and the rest of the team have encouraged fans to focus on the positive aspects of the experiment, rather than its abrupt conclusion. It's difficult to say whether or not the head will ever be found, since the police don't really cater to roboticide.Those who have homed in on the more unpleasant side of things have decried act of vandalism as a shameful commentary on American culture, given that HitchBOT made his way across Canada and a sizeable chunk of continental Europe completely unscathed. It's fair to say that he could have easily met the same fate in either one of those places and any outrage should really be directed entirely at the people who wrecked him, not the city of Philadelphia and not America at large, but social media rage snowballs conform to no such logic. Farewell HitchBOT, this world was not meant for one as beautiful as you.
Callum Davies
Callum is a film school graduate who is now making a name for himself as a journalist and content writer. His vices include flat whites and 90s hip-hop. Follow him @CallumAtSMF
HitchBOT - Hitch-hiking Robot Meets Untimely End in Philadelphia
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Monday, August 03, 2015
Rating:
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Monday, August 03, 2015
Rating:
Unknown
Keeping you up to date on social media, digital marketing, apps, news & reviews. Social media, and digital marketing as a whole, are rapidly and constantly changing, adapting to new developments at an ever increasing rate. Just keeping up to date can be a nightmare. Our team of writers know their field, and keep an ear to the ground. We aim to keep you informed of all recent developments in the online world, and teach you a little something along the way. So whether you just want to stay connected, or gain some knowledge for yourself, the Social Songbird will keep on singing! More articles are posted every day so keep checking back! Join the discussion on Twitter - #SocialSongbird Or contact us directly - @SocialSongbird_
Entrepreneur, international speaker on Social Media Marketing. First one in the UK to write and speak in conferences about Twitter as a marketing tool. Consultant to Corporate Companies, Government Organizations, Marketing Managers and Business Owners.
Aspiring novelist with a passion for fantasy and crime thrillers. He hopes to one day drop that 'aspiring' prefix. He started as a writer and soon after he was made Executive Editor and Manager of the team at Social Songbird. A position he held for 5 years.
Adrienne is a passionate writer with experience in editing, content creation, and social media marketing. She’s a lover of animals, helping others improve their writing, and 2000s pop culture.
Musician, audio technician, professional tutor and a Cambridge university English student. Interested in writing, politics and obsessed with reading.
Recently graduated with a BA in English Literature from the University of Exeter, and he is about to study an MA in Journalism at the University of Sheffield. He is an aspiring journalist and novelist; in his free time he enjoys playing chess, listening to music and taking long walks through nature.
Lucy is an undergraduate BSc Politics and International Relations student at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Anna Coopey is a 4th year UG student in Classics at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. She is a keen writer and researcher on a number of topics, varying from Modern Greek literature to revolutionary theory.
Ellie is a recent BA English Literature graduate and aspiring publisher with a passion for writing. Her favourite pastimes include reading and shopping.