The hitchBOT is a Research robot developed by David Harris Smith and Frauke Zeller, launched 2013.
RoboScore
Weak evidence
No confirmed deployment on record — this score reflects the rest of the record, not verified adoption.
2 of 9 signals present
Recomputed nightly from public data. Missing data is skipped, never zero-filled — and rankings are never for sale.
Weighted factors
average of the 2 scored · blanks don't count
Not in the Research standing. The standings cover robots first sold from 2020 onward, and this one launched in 2013. Its Robo Score above is unaffected — the score is the evidence, the standing is only who it is listed against.
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Overview
hitchBOT was a Canadian hitchhiking robot created by professors David Harris Smith and Frauke Zeller in 2013. It gained international attention for successfully hitchhiking across Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands, and engaged in basic conversations with people who picked it up, all while completing its journeys by asking for rides.
Flagship features
- Designed as a collaborative art project involving various universities
- Equipped to communicate and charm drivers for rides
- Uses social media to share experiences
- Constructed from everyday low-tech materials
- Powered by solar panels with recharging options from vehicles and outlets
Buyer decision signals
Viability
hitchBOT destroyed in Philadelphia
Price
Published figures are build cost or program budget, not a purchase price
Availability
Specifications
Category: Research- Battery
- 7.5 h
- Autonomy
- teleoperated
- Launch year
- 2013
- Price
- Research platform
- Status
- active
Published figures are build cost or program budget, not a purchase price
Detailed specifications
What it is built for6
- Applications
- human-computer interaction
- Mobility Type
- static
- Humanoid Subtype
- other
- Industries Served
- education,research
- Primary Applications
- research development
- Deployment Environment
- both
Movement & precision1
- Navigation Type
- hybrid
Power & runtime1
- Auto Charging
- false
Controls & integration4
- Sensor Suite
- GPS,voice recognition
- Onboard Compute
- Arduino
- Software Platform
- Cleverscript
- Programming Interface
- code python,proprietary app
Buying & support5
- Datasheet Url
- Preview PDF online
- Is Research Grade
- true
- Availability Status
- discontinued
- Countries Available
- Canada,Germany,Netherlands,United States
- Deployment Maturity
- prototype
Who runs it· deployment evidence
No deployment evidence on file
A deployment is recorded when a public source names the customer, or the maker confirms it. Nothing here counts against this robot.
7 other robots in this category have one.
Add a deployment →Company milestones
- Aug 2015DeploymenthitchBOT destroyed in Philadelphia
- Aug 2014DeploymentCanada crossing completed
- Jul 2014DeploymentCanada hitchhiking deployment begins
- 2015DeploymentUS trip launched in Boston
- 2014MilestoneSocial experiment expanded
- 2014DeploymentGermany and Netherlands trips completed
- 2013LaunchhitchBOT created
Frequently asked questions
- Who makes the hitchBOT?
- The hitchBOT is developed by David Harris Smith and Frauke Zeller.
- What type of robot is the hitchBOT?
- The hitchBOT is a Research robot made by David Harris Smith and Frauke Zeller.
- How much does the hitchBOT cost?
- Pricing for the hitchBOT is not publicly listed — contact David Harris Smith and Frauke Zeller for a quote.
- When was the hitchBOT launched?
- The hitchBOT was launched in 2013.
Reviews for hitchBOT
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