The robot will travel the entire width of Canada over the summer with the assistance of willing drivers. It is an intriguing concept to have a robot interact with its human counterparts but also a social experiment showing how people will react to a mechanical being. Is this the beginning of robot culture? What benefits are there for having a robotic passenger?
I think it would be fun to engage in this experiment. hitchBot may not be the greatest conversationist but his presence obviously has people communicate more with strangers and friends alike.
Would you pick him up?
What do you think you would learn from the experience if anything?