The friendly, social-media savvy robot named hitchBOT has hitchhiked to British Columbia and is zeroing in on its final destination of Victoria.
The robot re-tweeted this photo over the weekend, which was taken on the Alberta-B.C. border.
@Hitchbot FINALLY GAVE HITCHBOT OFF TO SOME REALLY NICE PEOPLE AT THE BRITTISH COLOMBIA BORDER. MISS HER ALREADY! pic.twitter.com/E8oyhLzCZz
— Roy howell (@RoyhowellJR) August 10, 2014
The robot later posted this photo to its Instagram account, boasting about the "amazing" west-coast view.
hitchBOT first embarked on its cross-country journey on July 27, when its inventors dropped the robot off at the side of the highway in Halifax. It wasn't long before the smiling bot thumbed its first ride.
@Hitchbot FINALLY GAVE HITCHBOT OFF TO SOME REALLY NICE PEOPLE AT THE BRITTISH COLOMBIA BORDER. MISS HER ALREADY! pic.twitter.com/E8oyhLzCZz
— Roy howell (@RoyhowellJR) August 10, 2014
Since that first day, the robot has met many other generous Canadians and seen some great sights. And like anyone else on a road trip, hitchBOT hasn't been shy sharing photos of its trip so far.
From attending a powwow on Ontario's Manitoulin Island to crashing a wedding in Golden, B.C., here's a look at what hitchBOT has been up to and a few of the people he's met over the two weeks.
We had a special guest camping with us last night: @Hitchbot , the hitch hiking robot! #NBSummer ! pic.twitter.com/4fLY9GNzEi
— Kouchibouguac NP (@KouchibouguacNP) July 28, 2014
The Hitchbot is getting a ride to Quebec with 3 guys from Halifax passing through #Kouchibouguac #Hitchbot pic.twitter.com/IOrFfxLMX3
— Mike LeBlanc (@mikecue) July 28, 2014
@Hitchbot is enjoying the view over the bridge, even though it isn't covered pic.twitter.com/HmRH2W8tlT
— Jean-Pierre Brien (@BrienPierre) July 28, 2014
Thanks Sharon and David for letting me ride in your trailer and for showing me Blue Heron campground in Charlo, NB. pic.twitter.com/MiV43n7w9J
— Hitchbot (@Hitchbot) July 30, 2014
@Hitchbot arrived in Quebec at the tourism info centre/rest stop northwest of Edmundston early this a.m. #Hitchbot pic.twitter.com/yLaQxp9ViP
— Timothy Jaques (@PretendEditor) July 30, 2014
A big thanks to Margot for dropping me off with my family in Toronto! Now it's time for a #botnap pic.twitter.com/IJaqwJtaOt
— Hitchbot (@Hitchbot) July 31, 2014
Jordan and his family took me to meet Wiarton Willie #wiarton #Hitchbot pic.twitter.com/bO85EDUH85
— Hitchbot (@Hitchbot) August 3, 2014
Here's another nice pic sent by Jordan who took me to the Powwow at Wikwemikong #Hitchbot pic.twitter.com/RSAgFDQ527
— Hitchbot (@Hitchbot) August 3, 2014
@Hitchbot. CURRENTLY DRIVING THROUGH SASKATCHEWAN! Xo #Hitchbot pic.twitter.com/MhMIfl0xQG
— Roy howell (@RoyhowellJR) August 8, 2014
@Hitchbot. @ADTR_Andrew. And @ADTR_Royzie. Doing the Harlem shake with Hitchbot! pic.twitter.com/2gyqGl9ifu
— Roy howell (@RoyhowellJR) August 8, 2014
Nona loved meeting @Hitchbot ! @KickingHorseMtn #Hitchbot #golden #eagleseye pic.twitter.com/T3KCpbbFNj
— mjbberry (@mjbberry) August 10, 2014
Thanks for coming to #kyleandjulie wedding in #golden @Hitchbot, bride enjoyed the dance! #Hitchbot pic.twitter.com/0oHQGJizRq
— mjbberry (@mjbberry) August 10, 2014
@RoyhowellJR @Hitchbot in good hands, on her way to #sicamous tomorrow. might be hungover from wedding #Hitchbot pic.twitter.com/mAapJvEfMp
— mjbberry (@mjbberry) August 10, 2014
McMaster University's David Smith and Ryerson University's Frauke Zeller said they designed the robot as an experiment to see how far it could go on the charity of passersby.
Zeller said the team wanted to flip the question "Can we trust robots?" and ask "Can robots trust human beings?"
"Our society depends more and more on robots and we need to know more about our relationship to that kind of technology," she told The Canadian Press in July.
The robot can't move by itself, with the exception of its hitchhiking arm and finger, and is therefore dependent on the goodwill of people, Zeller told CTV News Channel in July.
Smith said hitchBOT will challenge society's views on strangers and safety at a time when hitchhiking is viewed negatively despite falling crime rates.
With files from The Canadian Press