Apr 13 2009Stay Strong, GW: Helpless Robot Almost Cute
I say almost because there's no such thing as a cute robot. They're all just disgusting machines, only interested in the demise of the human race and reproducing like rabbits with their rusty metal phalli. But still, Tweenbots are the closest a robot has ever come to almost being slightly a little-tiny bit cute looking (excluding WALL-E).
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.
Tweenbots are the brainchild of NYU student Kacie Kinzer and, as much as I hate to say it, are adorable. At least until you try to point it in the right direction and they spray you in the eyes with hydrochloric acid or explodes. Which, I suspect, is being saved for Tweenbot v2.0. Hit the jump for several more pictures, as well as a map and video of it's maiden voyage, on which it took 42 minutes and 29 different people to help the smug little bastard traverse a park. Wow -- I can't even begin to describe how ironic this whole project is. Mostly just because I don't understand irony. Just kidding. Tanks.
Hit it, it's fun.
Thanks to twellve, Haz, Jacob and Strax, who would have yelled "BOMB" and ran like hell. Good looking, guys, you might just survive the apocalypse yet.
Reader Comments
1. Simone - April 13, 2009 3:07 PM
FIRST!!
And, adorable!
2. Mr.Checkers - April 13, 2009 3:07 PM
FIRST!!!! :]
3. Mr.Checkers - April 13, 2009 3:10 PM
Fail!?
4. Timbo - April 13, 2009 3:13 PM
Looks like a block of wood....
5. che-che - April 13, 2009 3:24 PM
no wonder new york is a failing state, people need to get a job and pay some bills. wondering around the park looking for robots to help, go get a job! ya bums!
if i saw this, i totally would have ran it over with my truck.
6. JoMama - April 13, 2009 3:27 PM
Thats awesome.
7. $.02 and a pocket full of FAH-Q - April 13, 2009 3:32 PM
I'm thoroughly surprized no one tried to steal that little guy...
8. Thizzle - April 13, 2009 3:34 PM
pshhh this post is nothing compared to the hilarity of this vid check it out
people
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2dS1GMCwx0
9. Batman - April 13, 2009 3:39 PM
Okay that is cute, but seems like a new toy for Joker to use.
10. Gordon "Fücking" Shumway - April 13, 2009 3:47 PM
KILL IT!
11. Fuzzy Ink - April 13, 2009 3:49 PM
I actually just wrote a post about this. It's a simply wonderful story and I was even more impressed with the results. Some of us really do care, and that's great to know. Good post GW.
12. paineel - April 13, 2009 3:51 PM
what park is this in? and it says help? lolol
is that some irony or what? one who is going to stop and help, and b how long before this thing gets stolen, homeless person riding it around the park like a hoov around
13. mmmmmike! - April 13, 2009 3:54 PM
so i went to the website, and watched the video.. at one point what appeared to be park security helped the cute little thing along it's route to hell.. and i couldn't help but wonder if she thought it could potentially be a threat. like a bomb, hiding in that cute robot, ready to explode and kill the human race which gave it its intelligence...
oh the irony
14. mmmmmike! - April 13, 2009 3:55 PM
IRONY? GET IT?
ugh i disgust you
15. Andrew T.S. Bedgood - April 13, 2009 3:58 PM
Am I the only one here that hates it when people post comments with links to their youtube vids to get more hits? I find that kinda pathetic... your name can be a freaking link, you don't need to spam. Interesting project, though...
16. jia - April 13, 2009 3:59 PM
I want one!
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18. Tennist0 - April 13, 2009 4:16 PM
id aim it at a busy intersection
19. Faugh - April 13, 2009 4:34 PM
I'm going to call the phone number listed on the new one's sign. I hope it belongs to Kacie...I bet she's hot and geeky. :)
20. CoinOperatedBoi - April 13, 2009 5:30 PM
Great....now terrorists are going to use this idea. I mean come one everyone freaked out when they saw Mooninites, but it's ok to direct a moving object towards a goal.
21. They Are Coming For Us! - April 13, 2009 5:46 PM
Sure he looks cute with his little felt marker grin, but what is this robot really up to? Death. Death and destruction. I can guarantee it.
22. babykiller - April 14, 2009 12:58 AM
@8 you better stop posting that vid cause if i find out where you live i will strip,rape,and strangle you and nobody will ever find your body
23. naas 日本に行く in matsumoto - April 14, 2009 8:43 AM
@17 lewzr
@22 'it wasn't even a good baby'
24. Daisy - April 14, 2009 11:43 AM
FAKE!!!!
This is a complete photoshop job. You can tell its a fake because tyhe shadow's are all wrong.
This is exactly like that scene in the movie Never BAck Down where Max put out a fire using a big tank of hummus pumped through a fire hose.
25. jeeec - April 14, 2009 3:23 PM
Very cute story but please please please change "it's maiden voyage" to "its maiden voyage." Please.
26. Tom Cruise - April 14, 2009 4:27 PM
@17 - email sent.
27. DoodZilla - April 14, 2009 10:54 PM
Don't let it's looks deceive you, GW! That's exactly what it wants you to do...
28. Midge - April 26, 2009 5:41 AM
ZOMG- Those are just waiting to have miniture cameras put on them!!!!!!!!!!
29. Bryan - June 30, 2009 9:11 AM
I'd be the guy who'd point it into the fountain.
Question, why didn't anyone else do that?
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