Sunday, April 12, 2009

I Love New York!



I've always said that New Yorkers get a bad rap. We're not the surly, weapon-wielding thugs that everyone thinks we are. We're actually quite nice! And now I've got proof (above).

Artist Kacie Kinzer recently devised an interesting experiment. She built a series of robots (cute robots!) that explore the city--with the help of pedestrians. You see, her "tweenbots" can only travel in a straight line. So they need assistance from the humans around them to reach their destinations.

The first tweenbot mission was a resounding success. Why? Because New Yorkers are so darn nice and helpful. (Unless you tick us off. Then we attack.)

Read more about the project here.

18 comments:

David T. Macknet said...

I was struck by something about the behavior of the people involved: they remind me, in their relation to the tweenbot, of ants. I'm referring to the way in which ants will sort larvae within the colony, or will move objects about in a given space. There is quite a body of research done with regards to the way ants behave in performing tasks, particularly amongst the robotics community: ants are "cheap," and if we could build robots similarly, we would have redundancy in the network, etc.

I wonder: has this tapped into something in humans which correlates to insect behavior?

Flower Child said...

That was so cute! All those nice people, helping that little robot! AWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But I still would have laughed if one of the bikers ran it over.

Thumb Biter said...

I want a robot!! I should make one :D
But I think it's really because it's interesting and you can go home and say "I helped a robot find its way through central park today!"

Peace Peeps said...

First of all, I'm postin' this on Easter so: Happy Easter! :D
And forget New Yorkers - it's Montanans that you have to look out for.

SAMEANONYMOUS said...

ya know I recently found a fun video to,just copy and paste this(and I know its long).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzFpg271sm8

SAMEANONYMOUS said...

Sorry I posted to soon. so after you search that click on the top video response.

SAMEANONYMOUS said...

sorry again again. Its called world builder

mccincol said...

It's true. New Yorkers, contrary to popular belief, will take the time to assist something! Especially those adorable bots :)

I wish I'd been in the city that day! Instead, I went today...there was an Easter "parade", and there was a man decked out in a full topiary bunny suit. It was AMAZING (and looked quite uncomfortable).

The Dimensionist said...

I just watched this a few hours ago. XD

They're sooooo cute!!!

We must protect them at all costs!

They are secret agents in extreme disguise...

falcon said...

Omygod, that thing is so cute! Some very well dressed people walking around too.

Dakota Blue said...

really, i can not believe what people think of new yorkers! this is just bogus! I mean, come on, they actually doubt our awesomeness? How dare they! Actually, now that I think about it, let them think what they want! When the time comes, new yorkers and other irregulars will come out victiorius! That'll show them! (And they probavbly just give us a bad rep cause they're jealous of our awesomeness.)

Grace said...

What about they other expriments with the other robots? Did they make it or were they left to fend for themselves?

Anonymous said...

Oh, so cute! Love it! So much better than my cousin's pine wood derby car.

ShatteredLaughter said...

かわいい!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I want one in our city!
It was so sad when he was stuck some people would actually take the time to read the flag but wouldn't help him :-(

Kitty said...

ADORABLE LITTLE ROBOTS INVADE NY!!! X3 There are alot of really nice New Yorkers surprisingly OwO

brave chickens said...

THAT is why I love NYC :)

Air is Where said...

i just have one question:
what's the point of a robot that can only go straight? maybe just to see what people would do.

Marie said...

I wish I lived in New York.At least I am going there this summer!