We spent two years to bring this innovative project to completion. It’s a testament to his ingenuity, and his serious dedication to engineering and robotics. The hand has four functional fingers and each finger has three joints to simulate. Two motors power the movement, and the motors use tendons to create precise, delicate motions.
Jared’s dad, Nathan Lepora, a University of Bristol professor of robotics, helped him with every step of the project. Together, though, they created this remarkable piece of technology, which is able to understand the shape of different objects, from apples to cups. Their team’s collaboration stands as a testament to the combination of academic expertise and youthful ingenuity.
Jared presented his work on the robotic hand at the IROS 2025 conference in Hangzhou, China. This spellbinding show immediately gained worldwide acclaim. Acting as the youngest panelist at the conference, he blew away the crowd—including some of the top-ranked professors in the space.
“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 about his inspiration for the project. His enthusiasm for robotics was evident as he elaborated on the challenges he faced and the skills he acquired during the creation process.
That recognition at IROS 2025 also paved the way for Jared to be a co-author on an academic paper with his father. This partnership helped to rock solidify his credentials in the field. Nathan shared his hope that their creation would inspire young engineers to imagine things beyond our current reality.
Wouldn’t it be great if it could go on to be a real Lego set for other kids to enjoy. That would be exciting, Nathan said, imagining a day when any other kids could do what Jared did so easily by just playing.
This past year, Jared’s inspirational diligence and imagination have truly blossomed in amazing ways. This accomplishment speaks to his promise and points to the amazing things happening at the intersection of education and innovation. For the young inventor who created the robotic hand, it not only marks their first big step towards a future career but offers so much more.