HitchBOT, a friendly hitchhiking robot that became famous on social media during its travels through Canada and Europe has been destroyed while on a trip across the United States.

“Unfortunately, hitchBOT was vandalized overnight in Philadelphia,” the robot’s creators said in a statement on Saturday. “Sometimes bad things happen to good robots.”

Oh dear, my body was damaged, but I live on with all my friends. Sometimes bad things happen to good robots! #hitchBOTinUSA — hitchBOT (@hitchBOT) August 1, 2015

HitchBOT was designed by a team of Canadian researchers as a social experiment to explore the relationship between humans and technology.

McMaster University's David Smith and Ryerson University's Frauke Zeller said they created the robot in an attempt to answer the questions: “Can we trust robots?” and “Can robots trust human beings?”

Smith and Zeller would soon find out.

In 2014, hitchBOT set out from Halifax on a cross-Canada tour that ended in Victoria, B.C. Though there were fears hitchBOT would be destroyed or kidnapped along its unaccompanied trek, the robot reached the West Coast relatively unscathed, thanks to the kindness of strangers who provided rides and sometimes, lodging.

Apart from a tune-up in Toronto and a small crack in the clear plastic part of its head, no medical care was required.

The robot couldn’t move by itself, with the exception of its hitchhiking arm and finger, and was therefore dependent on the goodwill of strangers, Zeller told CTV News Channel in 2014 interview.

Designed to be a talking travel companion, hitchBOT could toss out factoids and carry limited conversation. The robot would automatically snap a photo every 20 minutes to document its travels.

The robot proved quite popular, with dozens of photos of people posing with the robot emerging on social media.

@edbassmaster & I just picked up a hitchhiking robot!! This night has gotten really weird. @hitchBOT pic.twitter.com/Q2ijplpAT1 — Jesse Wellens (@Jessewelle) August 1, 2015

The journey of 5000 km starts with one step, or car ride in my case! Follow me on @Storify - https://t.co/RDOyeft51L pic.twitter.com/w2yoO1DQcO — hitchBOT (@hitchBOT) July 13, 2015

After successfully travelling across Canada and parts of Europe, the robot set off on a tour of the U.S. in mid-July, visiting a variety of sites in Massachusetts and New York before meeting its demise in Philadelphia.

The researchers were sent a photo of the damaged robot, but have been unable to work out its location because its battery is dead.

It is still unclear who destroyed hitchBOT or why, its creators told The Associated Press Saturday.

During past travels, the robot attended a comic convention and a wedding, and it had its portrait painted in the Netherlands. It once spent a week with a heavy metal band.



Oh dear, my body was damaged, but I live on back home and with all my friends. I guess sometimes bad things happen to good robots! My trip must come to an end for now, but my love for humans will never fade. Thank you to all my friends: http://goo.gl/rRTSW2 A photo posted by @hitchbot on Aug 1, 2015 at 2:45pm PDT

With files from The Associated Press