UK teen student's robot hand performs like research models

A 16-year-old student from Bristol, Jared K. Lepora, has developed an anthropomorphic robotic hand made entirely from LEGO parts that performs comparably to professional research models. Named the Educational SoftHand-A, this four-fingered, tendon-driven robotic hand mimics natural human hand motion using off-the-shelf LEGO MINDSTORMS components and two small motors. The design is inspired by the Pisa/IIT SoftHand, a leading soft-robotics model, and adapts its single tendon system concept with LEGO beams, rods, gears, and over 100 plastic bearings. Bench tests show the LEGO SoftHand achieves about 90% of the grip force of a professional 3D-printed SoftHand and can complete open-close cycles in roughly one second, with fingers that adapt automatically to different object shapes. The project, guided by Jared’s father Dr. Nathan F. Lepora of the University of Bristol, is openly accessible with build instructions and files available online, making it