3rd Annual Crappy Robotics Tournament: 2019 Hebocon

I was a little worried with my new position in Program Services at my library district's Operation Center that I wouldn't have time to host Hebocon this year. Turns out, I hosted not one, but TWO programs! I adapted this program for a STEM project at a local elementary school.

Hebocon is my favorite program, and I love all my programs! If you're looking for something innovative, fun, and bursting with creative engineering and imagination, Hebocon is the program for you!  My Library's Program Description:

"The 3rd Annual Crappy Robotics Tournament Returns!

Don't think you can build a robot? Hebocon is a robot sumo-wrestling tournament for those who don't have the technical skills to actually make robots.

All ages are welcome to participate and all supplies provided. Robot build starts at 5 pm. Tournament begins promptly at 6 pm." 

Hebocon Cheat Sheet
Hebocon Entry Form
Hebocon Audience Choice Vote Slips
Hebocon 2019 Master Roster

There are several modifications to this program that I implement due to the nature of my work with the public and for the sake of providing equal access to building materials and resources:

1. All robots are built from the same base/chassis <-- didn't happen this year :(
2. The Library provides all building supplies
3. All build takes place on-site
4. Build starts at 5 pm. Tournament begins promptly at 6 pm. Participants are welcome to come in any time before 6 pm, but no building (other than minor repairs) take place once the tournament begins.

At the 2nd Hebocon, I used the DREAM chassis, a stripped-down Dollar Store battery-powered car.

I dug out the leftovers from 2019 and realized why they were leftovers: the dang wires came loose! Did a quick solder job on them and they were ready to rock and roll again...unfortunately, there were only 9 of them. I thought about forcing participants work in groups, but part of the fun is watching families compete against each other. 2019 was going to be another experimental year (when is Hebocon not an experiment?)

I also rounded up some regular push cars from the Dollar Tree

...and found these tiny friction cars at my local Michael's Craft Store (4 for $1)

The friction cars are tiny, and I thought they would be my last resort, but people made some pretty great robots with these as the base!

Our program started at 5 pm. It's always a gamble with public programs how many people will show up. I was pleasantly surprised with the turnout right at 5 pm. Half a dozen families came together to work on robots, as well as a few curious adults, and two teens whose robot, Baconator, ended up being the one to beat.  I gave them a quick overview of Hebocon with this slides presentation:


I then left the presentation running throughout the build time for people to refer to. Several more people showed up throughout the build time.  By tournament time, we had 50 people building lots of different things. Some people decided not to enter their robot into the tournament, so our tournament roster featured 17 robots total.

Initially, I thought I'd offer extra points to participants who use a chassis without a motor. Ultimately, most built without a motor, so I paired the cars based on chassis type and then had the two winners from the motorized and un-motorized categories face off for the final match. It worked out better than expected because the motorized car's motor stopped working it was something I soldered, after all), so technically they both competed without a motor.

Destructo Kitty won 2 awards: Audience Choice and Tournament Champ

Insert Name Here won Most Destroyed. This builder has participated all three years and now has a trophy from each tournament: 2019 Most Destroyed, 2018 Tournament Champion, 2017 Audience Favorite.

Tournament Footage!

My plans for 2020:
1. Build my own (cheap) motorized chassis. I think the motorized cars are just more fun to use.
2. Failing the building my own option ^^, I'll find more friction cars.
2. Use the scoring system. I like how it worked out during my Outreach program at Green Mountain Elementary School.