HitchBOT Needs a Ride

Nowadays, the majority of us will speed past a hitchhiker nary a second look and possibly saying ‘Weirdo’ under our breath. However, what if you come across a robot flashing the thumb on the side of the road? Meet HitchBOT, the robot who needs a ride. With a bucket for a body and foam noodles for limbs, the only thing drivers will have to worry about is how much of their conversation with HitchBOT is being recorded. Conceived by professors at McMaster and Ryerson University with a goal of exploring the relationship between humans and technology , HitchBOT is making his way across Canada to hopefully make it to its destination at Victoria, British Columbia. Equipped with a GPS, people can go online to follow his journey and he can also take photos, record sound and post to social media. Lastly, voice recognition technology lets him engage in small talks to eliminate awkward silences during the ride.

For a peek at a revolutionary robot for the home, try JIBO: World’s First Family Robot.