A sixteen-year-old Jared Lepora of Bristol, Connecticut has gotten people talking. His hands-on education included two years creating a complex robotic hand solely out of Lego. This extraordinary project highlights his extraordinary engineering genius. Coupled with this is the clear influence of his father, Nathan Lepora, a professor of robotics at the University of Bristol, who played a pivotal role in supporting his son during the process.
The intricate robotic hand features a thumb and four fingers, each with three degrees of movement. This unique design allows it to hold everything from an apple to a coffee cup. This unique design emphasizes a novel two-motor tendon-driven system. This arrangement makes it possible for the robot hand to replicate the delicate motions required to grasp objects with little effort. Jared’s commitment to this undertaking was put to the test during the Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS 2025) in Hangzhou, China. There, he broke new ground of his own as the youngest speaker ever.
In his keynote address at the conference, Jared offered the first demonstration of his baby. He met with the foremost professors in the field of robotics. The two of them coauthored an academic paper with his father. Together, their efforts have made a beautiful outcome, which demonstrates not only their collaboration but their passion for robotics.
“My dad specializes in making advanced robot hands and I thought these principles were always really cool, so why not make it out of Lego?” Jared shared, highlighting his inspiration and creativity behind the project. His father was of the same mind, saying that he hoped their invention would one day.
“Wouldn’t it be amazing if it could be a proper Lego set for other children, that would be exciting,” – Nathan Lepora
Jared’s project was recently honored at a national robotics convention, shining a light on young innovators in the community. Practical application met playful design to yield some of the most exciting educational tools. These robotics tools motivate students to experiment with their creativity and imagination.