Sixteen-year-old Jared Lepora of Bristol has been in the spotlight recently for his incredible achievement in robotics. Inspired by his dad’s work, he spent two years designing and constructing an innovative, Lego-based robotic hand. This project demonstrated his enormous imagination and technical ability. This particular project attracted the unusual support of his dad, Nathan Lepora, a professor of robotics at the University of Bristol.
Inspired by human anatomy, the new robotic hand includes four fingers, each with three joints, giving them the dynamic flexibility of human hands. It operates using two motors that drive the fingers via tendons, enabling the hand to grasp various objects, including fruits and cups. Jared’s one-of-a-kind approach, merging robotics with a beloved construction toy, is a testament to his resourcefulness and creativity. This creative combination has sparked incredible enthusiasm for all the possible applications of this new technology.
In addition to this work, Jared and Nathan Lepora worked together to put together an academic paper explaining their work on the robotic hand. Their study received rapturous approval. This in turn led to Jared receiving an invitation to present at the Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS) 2025 conference in Hangzhou, China. At only sixteen, he rocked the house as TEDx’s youngest ever speaker, smashing his way onto the prestigious TEDx stage. There, he shared his innovative results and connected with the world’s top robotics experts.
Wearing a school blazer while seated beside his Lego creation, Jared expressed his admiration for his father’s work in robotics. My father focuses on the development of high-tech robotic hands. Inspiring the Build I’ve always thought those principles were super amazing, so I wanted to create one with Lego!” he said, explaining where the idea for his project came from.
Nathan Lepora, who along with Shaiak on inventorship, talked about their hopes for the future of their invention. “Wouldn’t it be amazing if it could be a proper Lego set for other children? That would be exciting,” he said, envisioning a day when young inventors can recreate Jared’s design and explore the principles of robotics through play.
Jared’s experience at UIC prepared him to not only amplify his own gifts of creativity, but to inspire the creative spirits around him. He had the opportunity to get invaluable experience at the IROS conference. There, he learned from leading professors and industry professionals in robotics, preparing him for countless opportunities in his field.