Colorado teenager creates affordable robotic arm using basic household materials

Easton LaChappelle, a 14-year-old teenager from Colorado, built a robotic hand inside his bedroom using LEGOs, fishing wire, and electrical tubing for approximately $300, The Economic Times reported. The young inventor set out to make artificial limbs significantly more affordable after meeting a girl who was using a prosthetic arm that cost $80,000. [1]

According to The Economic Times, LaChappelle continued his work by learning 3D printing technology after a year of development. He utilized this new skill to construct a brain-controlled prosthetic arm aimed at improving mobility and access for individuals in need of artificial limbs. [1]

The achievement earned LaChappelle second place in the engineering category at the International Science and Engineering Fair, The Economic Times reported. His robotic design additionally granted him an invitation to the White House Science Fair, where he met President Barack Obama. [1]

Following the recognition of his project, LaChappelle secured an internship on the Robonaut team at NASA's Johnson Space Center, according to The Economic Times. His early work eventually led to the establishment of Unlimited Tomorrow, a company that developed the TrueLimb prosthetic arm to deliver affordable prosthetics. [1]