Sixteen-year-old Jared Lepora from Bristol has captured the attention of the robotics community with his innovative creation: an advanced robotic hand constructed entirely from Lego. After two years of hard work, Jared finally introduced his state-of-the-art invention at the Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS) 2025 conference in Hangzhou, China. He became the youngest speaker ever at the event!
Jared’s state-of-the-art prosthetic hand is a marvel of engineering, with four fingers that each have three joints, giving them the ability to move in countless ways. The hand operates using two motors that function through a system of tendons, enabling it to grasp various objects, including fruits and cups. Jared’s complex design is a testament to his profound love of robotics. He cultivated this passion under the tutelage of his father, Nathan Lepora, a robotics professor at the University of Bristol.
As an aside, during his TEDx talk at the conference, Jared sported a conference school blazer, dapperly making his TED-ster presentation. He explained the principles that guided his project. We were thrilled to hear his passion for the ways that Lego encourages the builders of tomorrow.
“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
The collaboration between Jared and Nathan extended beyond the hands-on design process. They co-authored an academic paper detailing the robotic hand’s development. Nathan envisions their work opening up the door to more opportunities for kids who want to pursue a career in robotics.
“Wouldn’t it be amazing if it could be a proper Lego set for other children, that would be exciting,” – Nathan Lepora
At that conference, Jared serendipitously ran into a leading professor in the new field of robotics. This meeting served as a reminder of the accolades Jared has received during his short time for a few reasons. His technical ingenuity is impressive, but his invention now stands as an inspiration for other young innovators to find their own breakthroughs.
Jared’s experience illustrates both his creativity of thought and technical skills. He turns everyday materials such as Lego into amazing engineering feats and motivates everyone around him to do the same. As he further explores his passion for robotics, both he and his dad are hopeful about what’s to come.
