Jared Lepola and a robotic hand crafted from LEGO Mindstorms components
Nathan Leppola
A robotic hand constructed by a 16-year-old boy and his father using Lego pieces can effectively grasp and manipulate objects, showcasing functionality akin to natural human hands.
Jared Leppola, a student at Bristol Grammar School in England, began working on this project with his father when he was just 14 years old. Nathan Leppola is affiliated with the University of Bristol.
The device utilizes concepts from leading research institutions like Pisa/IIT SoftHand, yet it is built entirely from readily available components from Lego Mindstorms, a popular series of educational kits designed for creating programmable robots.
“My father is a professor of robotics at the University of Bristol, and I was really inspired by the design of robotic hands,” Jared explains. “This motivated me to pursue it in an educational context using Lego.”
The hand operates using two motors based on tendon mechanics, and each of its four fingers is equipped with three joints. A differential mechanism made of Lego clutch gears connects the fingers, allowing them to move in unison until they contact an object and stop, mimicking human grasping behavior.
Throughout testing, the Lego hand successfully grabbed nine common household items, including plastic cups, bowls, and a stuffed toy weighing 0.8 kilograms.
When one finger is engaged, it fully closes in approximately 0.84 seconds and reopens in about 0.97 seconds. This speed is about half that of the Pisa/IIT SoftHand’s 3D-printed counterpart, which employs metal bearings. In static tests, the Lego hand could withstand loads of 5 Newtons, exert a pushing force of 6 Newtons, and deliver a closing force of 1.8 Newtons. Comparatively, the 3D-printed version can manage loads up to 8 Newtons, push with 7 Newtons, and has a closing force of 2 Newtons.
“You won’t find a better hand,” Nathan states regarding the 3D-printed alternative. “In terms of functionality, the LEGO hands are also considerably larger, with each finger measuring 145 millimeters long and 30 millimeters wide.”
While Lego Mindstorms was discontinued in 2022, Jared noted that the device can still be easily modified with a variety of Lego creations. “The way I designed the motor, you can simply take it out and replace it with a new one,” he explains.
IIf you’re in Cologne this week, get ready for Gamescom, the largest gaming event in the world, returning to the city, where countless hilarious nerds will gather. (I first attended in 2009—before that, it was hosted in Leipzig, a bustling city known for its famous absam bar. Maybe my memories are a little fuzzy). Over 300,000 attendees are anticipated to enjoy one another’s company while trying out upcoming games at the convention amidst the hustle and bustle of work commitments.
The event kicks off, as is now custom, with a Game Showcase (PDF), where publishers can afford to shell out hundreds of thousands of euros to feature their trailers in the official live stream. (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and a live performance of the famed music from The Big and Weird French Hit of the Year are included as well).
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 opened with a Big reveal: Keep an eye out for coverage from reporter Alyssa Mercante later this week. While PlayStation has been fairly quiet recently, the historic action game featuring The Ghost of Yotei from Sony and Soccer Punch made an appearance, and it definitely looks impressive. After Assassin’s Creed Shadows showcased feudal Japan’s charm earlier this year, it seems Samurai enthusiasts are in for a treat. Expect additional multiplayer content to follow in 2026.
On the other hand, Capcom’s Resident Evil Requiem has unveiled new demo footage. Players can follow its young protagonist, Grace, as she navigates her mother’s dark apartment filled with supernatural horrors. Attendees can also get a sneak peek at the forthcoming game from the creator of Black Myth: Wukong, a notable hit based on last year’s Chinese folklore, featuring a god riding giant, wild-looking tigers. This game is titled Black Myth: Zhong Kui.
For me, the most thrilling news was the new footage of Hollow Knight: Silkson, a mysterious sequel to one of my favorite games. I haven’t seen any updates on this title since 2022. It is still slated for release this year, and I’m envious of anyone lucky enough to try the demo on the show floor.
The Dark Knight is back… Lego Batman. Photo: TT Game
A Surprising Announcement
World of Tanks has been around for quite some time, yet still sounds as it did back in its early days. Honestly, I’m baffled today compared to the early 2010s when it skyrocketed in popularity across Europe and Russia, becoming one of the biggest games worldwide. The upcoming 2.0 update is set to be a highlight at the show, but developer Wargaming has a new title as well. It showcases a notable tank feature, Heat, a cartoonish take on the classic battlefields of World of Tanks, and it looks quite enjoyable.
Additionally, we got a glimpse of a new game by Longilbert (famous for Maniac Mansion, the real OGS), creator of Monkey Island. This is not a pixel-art adventure game like his previous titles, but rather Death by Scrolling, where you play as an archer trapped in purgatory, attempting to evade the relentless Grim Reaper. Think of it as clear vampire survivors Check this out.
Most delightfully, there’s a new Lego Batman game that looks incredibly fun. Titled LEGO Batman: The Legacy of the Dark Knight, it will take players through Bruce Wayne’s journey from his origin story to becoming Gotham’s hero, drawing inspiration from both Nolan’s films and beloved Arkham games.
Details on the plate…Midnight expansion of World of Warcraft. Photo: Blizzard
Reviving Classic Games
Some significant announcements have emerged from a seemingly endless flow of updates to existing titles. The renowned MMORPG World of Warcraft, which holds great popularity in Germany, is making its debut for the new Midnight expansion, which attendees can experience live on the show floor. Additionally, Blizzard is hosting developer panels for further insights. The adorably deceptive game Lamb Cult, centered around a resurrected lamb leading a devoted following while battling demonic heretics, is also adding a new chapter titled “Wool Heaven”. Check it out here.
“It’s really scary”… Silent Hill F. Photo: Konami
Latest Updates to Cult Classics
This year, we’re seeing a revival of beloved titles from decades past, particularly in the realm of top-selling gaming franchises. Ninja Gaiden 4Looks intense and challenging, especially for those familiar with the original from the Xbox era. In the same vein, Silent Hill f has also drawn attention recently, with our reporter Tom Regan reporting from Japan that It looks genuinely terrifying, featuring unsettling creatures in an eerie abandoned town setting. Meanwhile, it may not be officially linked, but the Bloober team’s new sci-fi horror title, Chronos: A New Dawn, looks like the spiritual successor to Dead Space we’ve all been waiting for.
Finally, while it may be a sequel to a 90s game, I’m still eagerly anticipating Vampire: Masquerade 2, a title that’s been under development for quite a while. Set to release on October 21st, the first-person vamp-fighting game has me feeling potentially excited.
There are several German journalists covering Gamescom on-site, so be sure to check in for updates. In the meantime, here is a very handy Steam event page showcasing games (or newly debuted trailers) available for play at the show. It’s an excellent way to keep track of what piques your interest for your wishlist.
What to Play
The mindset regarding herds… the herds. Photo: Steam
I just began playing Flock, where you guide various creatures from a dirty city back to their natural mountain habitat. The creatures are unusual, resembling fluffy mammoths with twisted horns and tiny eyes, bringing to mind elements of The Last Guardian. However, rather than solely guiding stubborn flying cat-like titans through crumbling ruins, you’ll manage a group of smaller creatures with varying behaviors, which can be a bit challenging. I must admit, the intense feeling of responsibility towards them has made me introspective about future outcomes. I previously engaged with similar emotionally charged indie games.
Available on: PS5, Xbox, Switch, PC Estimated Playtime: 4-6 hours
What to Read
“There aren’t many rappers who excel in video games, but 50 Cent was one of them.”…50 Cent: Bulletproof. Photo: Vivendi Universal Games
Thomas Hobbs is exploring the development of 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand, the somewhat forgettable 2005 shooter featuring the rapper himself—curiously, the development team never even met him.
Sometimes, readers ask why we don’t cover smartphone games. The truth is, even with millions playing mobile games, interest in reading about them seems limited. Veteran gaming journalist Maddie Myers explores this intriguing contradiction in MobileGamer.
Someone recently struggled to recreate some wonderful tracks from the Netflix mega-hit Kpop Demon Hunters Animal Crossing (via Kotaku). I derive such joy from the effort put into this beautiful, whimsical creativity.
What to Click
Question Block
Without a doubt, this week is filled with reports from Gamescom, but if you have any inquiries about video games or our newsletters, feel free to drop a line at buttons@theguardian.com or send us an email. I welcome both serious and light-hearted questions equally.
Feedback is the latest science and technology news of new scientists, the sidelines of the latest science and technology news. You can email Feedback@newscientist.com to send items you believe readers can be fascinated by feedback.
Toy trouble
Feedback may be middle-aged, but while it makes the dotage persist, we are not ashamed to admit that we enjoy playing with Lego. So we were naturally intrigued to learn about the “set” released on March 1st.Stem evolution” (science, technology, engineering, mathematics).
Builds are a treasure trove of stem-related objects. An apple tree with a DNA double helix, a space shuttle and an Isaac Newton stood nervously beneath it. They all erupt from the pages of a public book, accompanied by minifigures of chemist Marie Scowdowska Curie and agricultural scientist George Washington Carver.
It has a slightly confusing appearance, but it has deeper issues, Reddit thread Flagged us by news editor Jacob Aron; At least one reviewer. It’s very simple: DNA is the wrong way. Many biological chemicals are either left or right-handed, and in terrestrial life, DNA is always right-handed, while LEGO’s DNA molecules are left-handed.
Feedback suggested that despite what experts say, we should go ahead and build a mirror organism where important molecules have a dominant hand that is opposite to existing lives. But then we saw it Jay’s Brick Blog He had already made that statement in their reviews.
Instead, we invite paleontologists around the world to find something wrong Meter long T. Rex Skeleton Kit Lego was released on March 15th. We need to stop buying it.
The thoughts that took part?
The specific tired inevitability has led many large energy companies to rewind their commitment to renewable energy, which prefers to chase immediate profits from fossil fuels.
In late February, BP announced it Boost Oil and gas investments increased by around 20%, cutting renewable energy funds by more than $5 billion. It says this is to maximize shareholder returns. Alas, the company’s net profit was only $8.9 billion in 2024. Ah, how their hands were tied up.
On the day this announcement was made, the story was presented in the UK BBC News Homepage – One headline: “Half of Homes will need a heat pump by 2040,” the government said. Feedback briefly joined some points in our added mind. It reminds me that it’s okay. People in suits know what they’re doing.
In RephraseFuturamaPhilip J. Fry: The feedback is shocking. shock! Well, I wasn’t so shocked.
The whole saga begins to wonder whether “corporate strategy” is an equal contradiction with “military information.” In the early 2000s, BP reformed from “British oil” to “beyond oil” and began to show its intention to embrace renewable energy. Then, after the cost of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, it abandoned everything and brought its focus back to fossil fuels. Fast forward to 2020 and to the company announcement A new target raft for renewable energy – many of them are now I’m getting far away Due to this recent decline in funding.
If the feedback is indecisive, it will be hard to decide how to wrap this around.
Crunch the numbers
Reporter Michael Le Page draws our attention Journal of Geek Studies. Despite its (somewhat) formal sound name, it is not peer-reviewed, but it publishes “an original contribution that combines academic topics with nerds.”
For readers unfamiliar with what a rancor is, it is a large reptile-like monster located underground in Jabba, the Palace of Hat Jedi ReturnLuke Skywalker fights. Another Lancer appeared in the 2021 series Boba Fett’s bookBut the less said about it, the better.
Authors Thomas Clements and Stephan Lautenschlager are trying to understand one key moment Jedi Return. To avoid eating, Luke picks up the long bones, lodges vertically to Lancer’s mouth, and opens his jaw. However, Luke’s reprieve is temporary, and Lancer is biting so hard that he smashes his bones into two.
Is this viable? The pair simulates the muscles and bones of Rancor’s jaw, and estimates that they could bite with the force of around 44,000 Newtons. “It allows you to snap large, long bones vertically.” Reassuring, “The bite power of living vertebrates does not approach rancor,” the great white shark and salted crocodile show off 16,000 to 18,000 Newtons.
During his journalistic career, feedback was repeatedly told by his editors, and repeatedly told to write stories that led to practical advice and “news that can be used.” Well, it’s here. Reader: Every time you challenge the crocodile territory, have one or two femurs just in case.
Have you talked about feedback?
You can send stories to feedback by email at feedback@newscientist.com. Include your home address. This week and past feedback can be found on our website.
Those who still think of Fortnite as a colorful, cartoonish battle royale game may be surprised to learn the true scope of Epic’s ambitions.
Fortnite’s large-scale, chaotic fight-to-the-death matches may still command the highest payouts, but Epic continues to steadily expand the scope of its flagship game into more of a game. platform More than just a simple standalone game.Fortnite’s psychedelic live event, monster Ariana Grande concert, and its infinity User-generated sandbox world All were hints about the final destination.
X may never be the be-all and end-all app, but Fortnite is already the be-all and end-all game. And it got even bigger.
Over the last week, Epic has released three new games within the game, starting with survival title Lego Fortnite on Thursday. Fortnite Festival, a rhythm game from the Rock Band development studio, and Rocket Racing, a fast-paced racing game from the makers of Rocket League, soon followed.
While Fortnite’s regular modes like Zero Build and the classic Battle Royale saw decent numbers over the weekend, and people also ventured into the other two new games, Lego Fortnite is on a whole different level. I made my debut.
Epic and Lego’s new Minecraft/Animal Crossing hybrid (more on this later in the review) peaks at 2.45 million concurrent players Immediately after launch. Over the weekend, it consistently hovered around the same high peak, sitting at about 1.1 million players by Monday. This in itself is an epic number that puts many hits on the Steam charts to shame. The live “Big Bang” event that introduced his three new games a little more than a week ago drew 11.6 million concurrent players and featured live Fortnite shows from artists like Marshmello and Travis Scott. Ta.
LEGO Fortnite is just one corner of Epic’s multiverse, but it’s clearly the one that’s getting the most attention right now. Fortnite’s total number of concurrent online players is much higher than that (all of Fortnite’s creative modes, ranked play, battle royale, etc. combined), but this is a completely different genre of family games. It is especially noteworthy that it has generated so much buzz. If LEGO Fortnite can maintain its momentum with a steady drip of engaging content that deepens the game, the free-to-play, multiplayer experience for the whole family may only get better.
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