Sixteen-year-old Jared Lepora of Bristol, Connecticut has already gained notoriety after designing a fully working robotic hand made completely from Lego. His winning design features four fingers, each with three highly-articulated joints. Those rich, complex movements are controlled by two powerful motors—pairing inflexible muscle with flexible, easy-to-stretch tendons. It’s no understatement that Jared has poured his heart and soul into this project over the past two years. His dedication to his craft has demonstrated his extraordinary engineering prowess and brought him worldwide acclaim.
Jared’s invention is a testament to both artistry and engineering skill. Each finger of the robotic hand moves freely, which lets it grasp a wider variety of objects—from oranges to mugs. The adaptability and versatility of the hand showcases the power that creative educational toys have to create the next generation of engineers.
The young inventor received invaluable support from his father, Nathan Lepora, a professor of robotics at the University of Bristol. Together, they wrote an academic paper describing the design and operation of the robotic hand. This partnership is a great example of the power of mentorship paving the way for innovative experiences for the innovators of tomorrow.
Jared’s outstanding achievements earned him a special invitation to present at the Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS) 2025 conference. We’re looking forward to his sharing his perspective from Hangzhou, China. At the event, he became the youngest speaker, presenting his findings to an audience of esteemed professionals and academics in the field.
“And he had the idea of making one out of Lego…maybe he’ll become my boss someday,” – Nathan Lepora
Following his presentation, Jared was able to meet with some of the top professors in the field of robotics. This experience increased his knowhow and grew his business relationships in the industry.
“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 explained, highlighting his inspiration for the project.
As he prepares to unveil his handiwork to the world, Jared told us what he hopes the robotic hand will accomplish. He hopes that it will evolve into a “full-fledged Lego set for other kids” to construct and operate. This ambitious goal is indicative of his wish not just to change the world, but to encourage and make possible other young inventors.
“Wouldn’t it be amazing if it could be a proper Lego set for other children, that would be exciting,” – Nathan Lepora