I built a robot to push back against delivery bots and bring art to the streets

Madison Polidoro, a fine artist and fabricator from Philadelphia, created a remote-controlled robot named Awebot to challenge delivery robots on the city streets. Polidoro, who primarily works with her hands and no AI, constructed the sculpture by hand, using wood, foam, and silicone components. She collaborated with the art collective Ministry of Awe to bring human-made art and curiosities back to the streets.

The Awebot features a faux butthole component, silicone tongue, and real hair from her friend Nina. The artist built the robot after noticing the prevalence of food delivery robots in Philadelphia, which she found unsettling. The Awebot, which she describes as a menacing menace to the delivery robot ecosystem, is designed to be interactive with people and bring a sense of wonder back to the streets.