Mr Hingston was a passionate maths, science and technology teacher at Emmanuel College with a thirst for knowledge and the way things worked. He also lectured Deakin University education students in science after he retired from the college in 2009.

“Hinga” as he was affectionately known among staff and students died in 2013.

Three of his six children, Michael, Elizabeth and Jacinta saw the humanoid robot in action on Thursday said their dad would have been honoured to have it named after him. 

Hinga the robot will be used in Year 7 information technology and science, technology, engineering, arts and maths (STEAM) classes.

“Dad would love it,” Jacinta said. “He got his kicks out of one of those remote control helicopters, he bought one for himself in his 60s. The kids weren’t allowed to touch it, it was his,” she laughed. 

“He was always excited about technology and he excited us about it too and the future. We got a BBC micro, a computer from the UK when there weren't computers here. He had one brought across from the UK in the 80s.” 

Digital technologies co-ordinator Cindy Baulch-Brown said Mr Hingston was an awesome and inspiring teacher regardless of the topic he was teaching.

Dr Baulch-Brown said the college ran a competition to name the robot so it would “feel like part of the family”.

“There were three names that we thought really resonated but to be honest we couldn’t go past “Hinga”, she said.

Dr Baulch-Brown said “Hinga” the robot’s main purpose was to engage students in coding and it could be used by primary school students through to high level programming at year 12 or university level. 

“It’s about hooking them in and building those skills up,” Dr Baulch-Brown said. “Rather than a computer screen the kids can see something happening. Because he’s very personable and very cute we’re hoping he’s a bit of a hook to get girls into technology. Across the state there’s not a lot of girls in technology so hopefully this is a way to get them interested.”

She said coding had lots of application in today’s world and into the future. “Coding opens up careers in the areas of computers but also in health and medicine. If we think of things like our TV, our mobile phone and even our fridges they’re all programmed, they all have coding behind them.”

Dr Baulch-Brown said the robot had been used in nursing home to encourage residents to exercise and was also used in a trial at the Royal Children’s Hospital to engage children to complete their physiotherapy exercises.  

“There’s lots of applications around the world where he’s being used in health settings where he’s helping people.”

Year 10 student Sarasa Deguchi, 16, programmed the robot to sit down, stand up and walk to a certain spot when it arrived at the college last year.

Sarasa said “Hinga” would help to interest both male and female students in the technology.