Apr 18 2008Carlos The Homeless Robot Pushes A Cart, Lacks A Body Above His Legs, And Is On Fire
Carlos is a robot that was built as a college project that asked how robots could benefit the less fortunate. How this robot does that is a mystery to me.
Carlos was a college kinetic sculpture project. I was interested in the concept of automating aspects of society that were considered not so "glamorous". Robotics are often used in environments which are considered dangerous to humans. Deep sea exploration, nuclear cleanup and volcanism are some of the "higher profile" adverse environments which robots are used. My question was, "What about other dangerous or hazardous areas?". For example, homeless people live in extremely dangerous environments. Shouldn't there be automated equipment used by this strata of society?
Of course there should be automated equipment for the homeless. Companies will finally be able to tap into the disposable income of the elusive homeless demographic. And clearly robots are a natural product choice. Think about it -- what does a homeless person need? A home? A hot shower? Maybe a warm meal? No, a scary torso-less robot that's on fire (wtf!?) and pushes a shopping cart. It just makes sense -- pushing a cart is clearly the most significant hardship facing the homeless community today.
A little picture explaining the robot's setup after the jump.
Carlos The Hobo-bot Is Officially The Best Thing I've Seen All Week, And It's Only Wednesday [ohgizmo]
Reader Comments
1. guate6 - April 18, 2008 3:09 PM
I'm with the writer. If he wanted to make a difference, why not build water sanitizers, so they can drink good water? Or a robot that goes around keeping them warm, or washing their clothes, maybe even grooming them for a job interview?
2. butterbee - April 18, 2008 3:13 PM
awesome
3. whistle - April 18, 2008 3:13 PM
A robot isn't even necessary for this purpose. How about a self propelled cart?
4. quantumcthulhu - April 18, 2008 3:50 PM
you are missing the blatantly obvious point of this "kinetic sculpture". absurdity ex machina.
5. Sophie - April 18, 2008 4:30 PM
Why is it on FIRE?
6. Nooken - April 18, 2008 4:52 PM
I does walk like many of the hobos I've seen so kudos on that front!
And I agree... on fire... WTF is that about? Obviously not a concern to the camera person.
7. Snoodle - April 18, 2008 5:29 PM
1) Why is it on fire
2) Why aren't people freaked out
3) Holy sh-t, that thing is creepy.
8. Peekadoodle - April 18, 2008 6:03 PM
Well, it's obviously supposed to be helping the homeless arsonist. I mean, arson is a type of art, right? What about the hard to reach places, that only a lower body with shopping cart can reach. Or maybe they'll be adding a monkey throwing some moltov cocktails out of the cart.
These guys are giving that homeless arsonist an opportunity he would have never had, making it safer for him to be out of harm's way.
9. wiinja - April 18, 2008 6:45 PM
frankly, not ENOUGH fire
or cowbell for that matter
10. SmokingGirl - April 18, 2008 7:27 PM
More cowbell...and, uh, some fire. Yea, more fire and cowbell. And a torsoless/headless robot that pushes a cart like someone with Parkisans. So, uh, yea...more cowbell, er, fire, uh, cowbell. *tries to drown self in bathtub* More firey cowbell!
11. Dan - April 18, 2008 7:31 PM
Thanks for the nightmares!
12. Scott - April 18, 2008 11:55 PM
More Cowbell? How about more ample breast?! Huh, Hmm, Huh, Yea? *wink-wink*
13. Lindsay - April 19, 2008 12:51 AM
Yeah, thats hardcore creepy
14. Bill - April 19, 2008 3:10 AM
no what would be creepy is if there would be a cowbell where his privates are and on fire + the torso is two beautyful breasts now that people is @!%^# creepy
15. Cyberwulf - April 19, 2008 3:43 AM
Well hey, hobos need lovin too, and those crazy bag ladies shag like a piece of plywood.
16. SmokingGirl - April 19, 2008 10:39 AM
Hmmmm, I'll have to see what I can do for you, Scott. My ample breasts can cause feelings in others that they themselves don't quite understand, so I have to handle my powers properly.
I'll go with the red bra....yea, the red bra.
What were we talking about?
17. poop - April 19, 2008 3:34 PM
worst robot ..ever!
lol and it's on FIRE! haha! how does this happen? how did it happen and it keep moving forward? it could only be the fuel source or perhaps a battery, maybe the lubrication or hydraulics. the only one of those items that i can think of that wouldn't stop the robot in it's tracks would be the lubrication.
but i haven't read the whole story. i didn't want to taint my brain.
18. Atrides - April 19, 2008 5:12 PM
"For example, homeless people live in extremely dangerous environments. Shouldn't there be automated equipment used by this strata of society?"
No.
The problem with art is that it's picked up a reputation for making a difference. Sure, some art does, and that consists of 99.99% of the art people ever hear of. Unfortunately, it provides artsy-fart retards with sticks up their asses and nonsense in their brains with excuses for wasting their "talents" on useless bullshit like this.
19. ddshog - April 19, 2008 8:14 PM
first impression, run away bomb, wtf
20. Asdf - April 20, 2008 1:55 AM
Imagine having a few drinks, walking home, and coming upon this. Lol.
21. John - April 20, 2008 3:13 AM
The fire is the charming part!
As we all know homeless people smell like sour milk. So whats better? The smell of burning sour milk! it might be a warning mechanism installed to hail its glorious arrival to people who are frightened by the homeless.
My bet is on coal power. The batteries are just a hoax.
We're the real fools here, not homeless bots creators, shame on us.
22. Cyberwulf - April 21, 2008 3:48 AM
Quite honestly, this almost looks like something oput of futerama... A homeless robot.
23. Rod - April 21, 2008 2:16 PM
Peekadoodle - "Or maybe they'll be adding a monkey throwing some moltov cocktails out of the cart."
That's quite possibly the greatest thing I've ever heard. Did Dr. Wily make this thing? Maybe it's on fire so homeless people have something to stand around to get warm.
24. SlowMonkey - April 21, 2008 3:21 PM
Lighting farts on the homeless aren't as fun as they can put theirs out quicker. In addition, the robot get points for being a sharper dresser. Now, you may look at this speedy model and get frustrated with the Real Homeless and holler, "Faster, Faster!" but the Real Homeless are only going to holler back "Where's my motivation?'. I think the robot is a real improvement and that the organic homeless should be disposed of post-haste.
25. hobotech - September 3, 2009 6:35 PM
does anyone else foresee a walking pair of disembodied legs inspiring brutal vietnam flashbacks in homeless populations around the country?