Sixteen-year-old Jared Lepora from Bristol has made headlines with his remarkable invention: a functional robotic hand crafted entirely from Lego. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for two years Jared collaborated with his father, Nathan Lepora, a robotics professor at the University of Bristol. Together, they created and fashioned a bionic hand to grasp different kinds of items including pieces of fruit and other objects like a cup.
Though the Lego robotic hand only has four fingers, each one is fitted with three joints. It functions like a robot fish with two motors powered by tendons. This bustling and innovative project is just one example of Jared’s creativity and originality. It further demonstrates the level of knowledge of advanced robotics principles that he’d acquired from his father.
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. His invention is a great example of what educational play can accomplish, sparking creativity and problem solving with engineering know-how.
Along with constructing the robotic hand, Jared and Nathan collaborated on an academic paper outlining their work. Their collaboration is a result not only of that familial bond but of shared passion for robotics. The pair’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. Jared was invited to present his creation at the Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS) 2025 conference in Hangzhou, China. At only 16 years old, that made him the youngest person to ever speak at the illustrious event.
During the conference, Jared had the opportunity to connect with leading professors in the field of robotics, further enriching his experience. He came to the event dressed with a school blazer and white lanyard around his neck, emblematic of his youthful commitment to innovation.
In an emotional moment, Nathan Lepora exuberantly lavished accolades on his son’s success. He said, “Wouldn’t it be awesome to make an official Lego set to share with other kids? That would be pretty cool!” This sentiment captures the essence of Jared’s work: inspiring future generations to explore robotics through play.
Jared’s Lego robotic hand has piqued interest outside of the conference stage. It was recently profiled in a PBS news segment that showcases the nation’s best and brightest young inventors. I think Jared’s genius really flourished in that limelight. This award underscores the key importance of investing in our future science and technology workforce.