SERAI successfully bid for a Digit<all> funding grant from their partnership with Meet and Code, Europe’s largest digital skills programme. SERAI then partnered with Leeds Libraries and Barnsley Libraries to deliver a series of workshops aimed at encouraging young people from underserved communities to engage with robotics in a unique and hands-on way. These workshops were called Toy Teardowns and Hebocons.

What is Hebocon?

Hebocon is a fun competition that originated in Japan, with the name coming from the Japanese word heboi which means ‘technically poor’. The goal is to create the world’s best worst robot, and is designed for people with little or no technical skills to build the most low-tech robot they can make. With ambition and inventiveness being regarded far more highly than if the robot worked, the fear of failure was entirely removed, allowing our young people absolute freedom to be as creative as they could be, and the results were amazing.

Community Events

SERAI provided both Leeds Libraries and Barnsley Libraries with the funding to buy all the hand tools necessary to take toys apart, such as screwdrivers, pliers, wire strippers, and junior hacksaws along with safety equipment, but we didn’t want to purchase brand new toys only to destroy them as part of the event. The library services in Leeds and Barnsley put calls out to their communities to encourage families to donate their old, broken or unwanted toys to their nearest library, which added a sustainable aspect to the event by giving toys destined for landfill a new life! It wasn’t only families that got involved – local businesses and charities such as Revive Reuse CIC also provided toys. While we encouraged people to take their creations home with them, some also decided to allow us to display them in public Art Libraries!

Building Skills

These events not only inspired young people creatively but also provided them with the opportunity to learn some practical skills using hand tools. By doing the opposite of what they are always told and allowing them to break things, our participants could see how these toys were put together, different methods of taking them apart, how their motors and sensors worked, and how these could be repurposed for their robots. They learned basic engineering and robotics concepts and had to come up with creative solutions to overcome obstacles. The feedback we received was universally positive and showed an increase in confidence and interest in STEM fields. The events were so popular. The demand has meant that more are planned for Halloween!