Tech & Biz

Tweenbots: Depending on the Kindness of Strangers

by Jordan Yerman | April 12, 2009 at 09:56 am

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People-minded roboticist Kacie Kinzer created a series of tiny robots whose mission is simply to get from point A to point B. However, these little guys cannot steer or navigate themselves, and so are equipped with little flags that list their destination.

New Yorkers who come across the robots end up reading the flag and helping the robots on their way. In this sense, the robots are actually people-powered, depending on the kindness of strangers. Risks include the robot geting stomped on, misdirected, defaced, stolen, or attacked by overzealous police.

The first test was successful.

It's an interesting study of suspicion, empathy, and community-mindedness in an urban environment.

O, to be a robot out for a stroll in springtime New York City!

Tweenbots are human-dependent robots that navigate the city with the help of pedestrians they encounter. Rolling at a constant speed, in a straight line, Tweenbots have a destination displayed on a flag, and rely on people they meet to read this flag and to aim them in the right direction to reach their goal.