Sixteen-year-old Jared Lepora from Bristol has been all over the news. The very first day, he constructed an amazing, life-changing robotic hand made entirely out of Lego! This now-ambitious project would take him about two years to finish, a powerful accomplishment for such a young creator. Jared has finally achieved his dream of designing a safe, functional, and versatile robotic hand proving his creativity and engineering talent. His father, Nathan Lepora, a professor in robotics at Bristol University, provided hugely helpful support.
Similar to a real hand, the robotic hand has four fingers, each with three joints, providing high dexterity and agility. This design is powered by two motors that use tendons to mimic the fluid opening and closing of a natural hand. The functional hand can grasp a wide range of objects, from pieces of fruit to drinking cups, showing off its real-world potential uses. Jared’s dedication to this project is a testament to his long-standing interest in robotics, as well as the principles that his father teaches.
“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 Lepora explained. His methodology demonstrates a novel application of materials. It highlights the deep promise of robotics for educational tools.
Jared not long ago presented his pioneering work at the Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS) 2025 conference taking place in beautiful Hangzhou, China. Having recently turned 16, he went on to become history’s youngest keynote speaker at the event. He passionately defended his work and imparted some deep knowledge about what he had created. The opportunity to speak at such a prestigious conference underscores the significance of his work in the field of robotics.
Working alongside his dad, Jared contributed to an academic paper explaining how they designed and built the robotic hand and how it works. Nathan added that they were fortunate to be in a position to inspire future generations with their work. “Wouldn’t it be amazing if it could be a proper Lego set for other children? That would be exciting,” he stated. This vision is indicative of an aspiration to broaden the entry to the field of robotics among young robotics enthusiasts.
The project has garnered attention not only for its technical achievements but for its potential to engage children in science and engineering through play. The approachable and familiar building material of Lego opens an engaging platform to educate students on programming and robotics.