“Little Explorers, Big Discoveries”: Ajudaris children discover robotics at INESC TEC

INESC TEC opened the doors of several laboratory facilities to a group of 12 children and young people from Ajudaris, a social solidarity organisation, as part of an educational visit organised by the Institute’s Technical Committee for Social Responsibility (CTRS). Under the theme Pequenos Exploradores, Grandes Descobertas, participants aged between three and 12 spent an afternoon discovering the world of robotics and innovation. 

The visit began at INESC TEC’s Robotics and IoT Laboratory for Intelligent Precision Agriculture and Forestry (TRIBE Lab), where researchers Francisco Oliveira, Joana Pereira and Vítor Tinoco introduced the group to the ways in which robots and intelligent technologies are transforming agriculture and forestry; the children also had the opportunity to meet the Semtechno and Modular-X robots. 

After exploring the fascinating world of agricultural robotics, the group moved on to INESC TEC’s Industry and Innovation Laboratory (iiLab). There, researchers António Paulo Moreira, Manuel Silva, Maria Lopes, Alexandre Mello and Jorge Justo welcomed the visitors and showcased several of the technologies shaping the industry of the future. 

Among the highlights were a humanoid robot suspended on a testing rig, a dismantling cell for end-of-life electronic equipment designed to recover valuable materials, and a mobile manipulator capable of automatically removing objects from containers. 

For Vítor Tinoco, the experience “is always incredibly rewarding, as it reminds us that science is meant to be shared.” Manuel Silva added: “The goal of this programme was to help this group of children and young people better understand what robots are used for, the wide range of fields in which they can be applied, and to challenge the still widespread misconception that introducing robots into human activities necessarily leads to higher unemployment.” 

The afternoon concluded with a shared snack, bringing together INESC TEC researchers and the children and young people from Ajudaris, a social solidarity organisation that develops educational, social and community projects to support children, young people and families. 

The initiative forms part of INESC TEC’s ongoing commitment to social responsibility and to bringing science closer to the community, inspiring younger generations to develop an interest in research and technology.