Sixteen-year-old Jared Lepora from Bristol just did something amazing. He spent two years creating a complex, fully-functional robotic hand out of nothing but Lego. This technically sophisticated and visionary project is a testament to his talents. It shines a light on the ways that robotics can ignite the passions of young innovators.
The robotic hand has four fingers. Each finger is fitted with three jointed fingers, allowing it to replicate the diverse features of a human hand. Two motors actuate the hand through tendons, allowing it to wrap around different items such as fruits or cups. In this time Jared’s commitment to this project has produced an impressive functional prototype that explores creativity and engineering excellence.
One key source of support that Jared had was his father, Nathan Lepora, a robotics professor at the University of Bristol. Nathan’s knowledge and experience were key in helping Jared navigate the intricacies of robotic design. Together, they co-authored an academic paper demonstrating their work developing the robotic hand. It’s no surprise that this innovative project has set the robotics community abuzz.
“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 motivation behind the project. His unusual aesthetic has gotten noticed well outside his local bubble. So timely was his work that he even earned an invitation to present at the Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS) 2025 conference, taking place in Hangzhou, China.
Jared, the youngest speaker at the conference, took full advantage of his opportunity to deliver his perspective. He began to network with industry tops, inventors, all of the stars of this new robotics field. Following up his presentation, he sat down with leading professors and researchers, blasting open his network and exposure in the industry.
Although the film is complete, Lepora shared his aspirations for the future of their creation. He was like, “Wouldn’t it be cool if it could be a real Lego set that other kids could build? That would be great. Those hopes are a testament to the impact Jared’s project could have on other young inventors.
This pioneering robotic hand demonstrates the remarkable things that can happen when creativity meets education. That convergence creates amazing and transformative tech innovations. Jared Lepora’s pathway exemplifies the potential of mentorship and collaboration, highlighting what’s possible when passion intersects with knowledge.