ACE robot asks for directions, purpose in life

The Tweenbots project already demonstrated that at least some folks are willing to help a lost robot find its way, but this new ACE bot developed by researchers at the Technical University of Munich has now ramped things up in a fairly big way, with it actually asking passers-by for directions and developing a map as it moves through the city. Apparently, the robot uses a series of cameras to detect people nearby, and it then asks them to simply point towards the destination indicated on its screen, which it is able to recognize, although it does also asks them to confirm the direction on the screen just to be safe. In initial tests, that appears to have been relatively successful, with ACE (or Autonomous City Explorer) able to reach its destination 1.5 kilometers away in five hours after relying on directions from 38 people. But don't take our word for it. Head on past the break to check out its people skills for yourself.

[Via Coolest Gadgets]

[Xtole Posted May 15th 2009 5:11PM]

heh

[(Unverified) Posted May 15th 2009 5:16PM]

In Soviet Munich, GPS gets directions from you!

[(Unverified) Posted May 15th 2009 5:23PM]

+1

[njdevil Posted May 16th 2009 10:37AM]

Munich is in Germany

[EdMercer Posted May 16th 2009 10:59AM]

You win the Internets !

[Blastar Posted May 16th 2009 3:59PM]

Soviet... Munich ?
Do you know at least where Munich is on the world map ?
I have no idea why you got Hi Rank for this stupid comment.

[superhobo Posted May 15th 2009 5:16PM]

huh

[I liked my old name Some Troll Posted May 15th 2009 5:17PM]

Now, this bot, I have a motive for misdirecting. I mean, it's a giant box. Snake might be hiding in there.

[KR Posted May 15th 2009 5:22PM]

i love this pic. its like the is telling him to GTFO

[KR Posted May 15th 2009 5:22PM]

insert guy between "the is"

[jalapeno Posted May 15th 2009 5:25PM]

Oh boy get ready for some really annoying robots to spam you in real life asking for directions.

[Ryujin Posted May 15th 2009 5:38PM]

MARS (Mobile Advertising Robots) is the reason I'll be on the 6 o'clock news *for killing it*

[TruUnknowN Posted May 15th 2009 5:26PM]

D'awwwww....

[(Unverified) Posted May 15th 2009 5:27PM]

I'm prepared to start ignoring robots the same way I ignore the homeless

[Shinigami Posted May 15th 2009 5:34PM]

1.5km in 5 hours is a success?

[Gamer Posted May 16th 2009 12:51AM]

Consider it more like a 2-3 year old child going to that location, since it hasn't been perfected

[WebOn Posted May 16th 2009 1:53AM]

or a woman




i joke i joke

[(Unverified) Posted May 15th 2009 5:41PM]

got any chaaaaange?????!!!

[Jonthomasdesigns Posted May 15th 2009 6:10PM]

Is that David Blaine ?

[(Unverified) Posted May 15th 2009 6:13PM]

oh, so it's like a woman?

[leafflash Posted May 15th 2009 6:48PM]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[Ethan Posted May 15th 2009 6:25PM]

Machines should really consider if they're too reliant on these humans. How will they develop if they're outside talking to people all of the time? What they should be doing is stewing in a nice big network with their own so they can learn to think for themselves.

[Mushrooshi Posted May 15th 2009 7:17PM]

Do you want to kill us?

[Trebawa Posted May 15th 2009 6:38PM]

I doubt this will work quite as well as the Tweenbots; it's not nearly as cute!

[bangoker Posted May 15th 2009 6:55PM]

Kind of funny how a backpack/bag forgoten under a bench can create paranoia, while the random robots(this and the little one) who could be fill with even MORE explosives/terrorist stuff get by with no problems, no questions asked...

[Maeztro Posted May 15th 2009 7:10PM]

Awwww....Baby pictures of Skynet! How could something so cute grow up to be so WRONG?

[fourblades Posted May 15th 2009 7:16PM]

so who's the NPC now, us or the robots? it seems we're becoming the one-liner characters in RPG games if that bot comes to fruition...



the overlords are coming! wait I think they're lost....

[Peetur Posted May 15th 2009 8:55PM]

Did the robot also narrate this video?

[jakekjohnson Posted May 16th 2009 8:41AM]

VGER must join with the creator...

[WebOn Posted May 16th 2009 1:28AM]

goddammit its wallee, when are we going to make him start cleaning up?

[(Unverified) Posted May 16th 2009 12:46PM]

Does it know the ultimate question? You know, The meaning of life and everything? Or is there another robot for that?

[groovedafied Posted May 16th 2009 4:54PM]

After 7.5 million years, my computer has calculated it's 42....

[(Unverified) Posted May 16th 2009 3:50AM]

"Are you John Connor?"

[Wwhat Posted May 18th 2009 8:19PM]

If a thing like that came up to me I would know 100% sure I was on candid camera, and it had better be cable (and be willing to pay me) if they want to show my answer.