Hebocon

"A robot sumo-wrestling competition for those who are not technically gifted. The robots that compete in Hebocon are nothing like the sleek, state-of-the-art robots that compete in normal robot tournaments."

The Art of Technical Ungiftedness

Hebocon is a robot sumo-wrestling competition where technical incompetence is celebrated and failure becomes art. Unlike traditional robot competitions that showcase engineering excellence, Hebocon embraces the awkward, the broken, and the beautifully dysfunctional.

The competition originated in Japan, where "hebo" means "poor quality" or "crappy." Robots made from cardboard, tape, toys, and kitchen utensils stumble into battle, often failing to move at all. Victory is secondary to the spectacle of creative failure.

Brought to Europe by Romedius Weiss

Hebocon was brought to Schmiede 2016 by Romedius Weiss. From then on, Michael Hackl started his career as sports moderator for Robo Fights, turning each match into a theatrical performance where the narrative of failure became as important as the competition itself.

Together with Andreas Pils and Stefan Wiedner, they transformed Hebocon into a comedic sports spectacle, complete with dramatic commentary, fighter introductions, and celebrations of spectacular failures. The worse the robot, the better the show.

The Philosophy of Hebocon

In a world obsessed with technological perfection, Hebocon stands as a monument to the beauty of imperfection. It's not about winning-it's about trying, failing, and celebrating that failure as a creative act. Every wobbling robot, every duct-taped motor, every complete breakdown becomes a statement about our relationship with technology.

The Rules (Or Lack Thereof)

• Robots should be technically poor
• High-tech robots are penalized
• Remote controls are allowed but discouraged
• Falling apart is expected and celebrated
• The audience determines the true winner through applause

Venues & Performances

Since 2016, Michael Hackl has brought the Hebocon experience to venues across Europe, each time celebrating the art of technical failure:

• Schmiede Hallein - The European birthplace of Hebocon chaos
• Ars Electronica - Where art meets technological incompetence
• Make Munich - Maker culture meets creative failure
• Chaos Computer Club Camp - Hackers embrace the art of not working
• Make Vienna - Austrian makers celebrate dysfunction