HitchBOT: The Robot Who Wanted to See the World!

HitchBOT was like a friendly robot traveler! It was made by smart grown-ups who wanted to see if a robot could be a good hitchhiker. HitchBOT had a round head and a body that looked a bit like a bucket.

It couldn't walk or run, so it had to rely on kind people to give it rides in their cars, trucks, or even boats! It was designed to be friendly and talk to people, making new friends everywhere it went.

HitchBOT was born in Canada, a big country with lots of snow and maple syrup! Two clever professors, David Harris Smith and Frauke Zeller, built HitchBOT in 2013. They wanted to see if people would help a robot on an adventure. HitchBOT's first big trip was across Canada, from the Atlantic Ocean all the way to the Pacific Ocean. It was like a super long road trip, but for a robot!

After its Canadian journey, HitchBOT went on even more exciting trips! It traveled through Germany and the Netherlands, meeting lots of new people and seeing new places. Imagine a robot seeing the Eiffel Tower or riding on a Dutch windmill! HitchBOT was great at remembering things and could even tell stories. It was like a walking, talking travel diary, but made of metal and wires!

Sadly, not all of HitchBOT's adventures had happy endings. In 2015, it tried to hitchhike across the United States. But in a city called Philadelphia, some people weren't very kind.

They took HitchBOT apart, breaking its arms and head. It was a sad moment for the robot and for everyone who believed in its journey. It showed that while many people are helpful, not everyone understands or respects new ideas.