HitchBOT, the Hitchhiking Robot, to Travel Across Germany
Ashley Allen / 10 years ago
HitchBOT, the Canadian hitchhiking robot, is set for a road trip across Germany. Last year, HitchBOT thumbed its way around Canada, from Halifax to Victoria, talking and tweeting along the way.
Professor Frauke Zeller, HitchBOT’s co-creator and German national, is looking forward to the robot’s trek across her homeland, and the spirit of altruism she hopes it engenders, saying, “I think being helpful to something that needs help is something that is innate to everybody.”
Upon being given a ride, HitchBOT explains to the driver what its purpose is, and ask if it can be plugged in to charge its battery. The robot has built-in WiFi and GPS, so its progress can be tracked and the bot can post live updates to Twitter and Instagram.
In anticipation of the impending journey, HitchBOT tweeted on Monday:
Shining my wellies & packing my suitcase. I’ve been invited to Germany this Feb! I’m so excited; my family says I have ants in my pants.
— hitchBOT (@hitchBOT) January 19, 2015
HitchBOT’s German adventure begins on 13th February, and is expected to last for 10 days.
Source: The Star
