Canadian Hitchhiking Robot Destroyed in Philadelphia

This is why we can't have nice things. HitchBOT, the loveable little Canadian hitchhiking robot is, sadly, no more. The robot, developed by students and professors at the University of Toronto, was all set to hitchhike the USA starting in Massachusetts and ending up in San Francisco. That was the plan but now that's all changed.

HitchBOT was in Philadelphia over the weekend...no doubt well on his way to San Francisco when someone, late Saturday night, destroyed him.

The premise behind HitchBOT was for people to pick him up and carry him as far as they were going. Then leave him on a bench or something waiting for the next passerby that could give him a ride. Did I mention he also had the ability to carry on basic conversations?

According to the Twitter account of one of the creators, they lost contact with HitchBOT sometime late Saturday night in Philadelphia. A few hours later, they were sent a picture of the destroyed robot with his arms and head ripped off.

Honestly, this is why people hate America. Someone thought it was funny to destroy what people worked hard on and rubbed it in their faces by sending a picture...no doubt proud of themselves.

The creators of HitchBOT say they will rebuild him and try again. Hopefully they stay away from the city of "Brotherly love".