Russian Students Have Created a Robotic Prosthetic Hand
Russian high school students have designed and built a robotic prosthetic hand and a computer‑vision telescope, mastering a full engineering production cycle under the guidance of an MIPT graduate student
Students from Physics and Mathematics Lyceum No. 5 in Dolgoprudny have presented a fully functional robotic prosthetic hand and a telescope equipped with a computer‑vision system. The projects were developed under the mentorship of Alexander Zalessky, a graduate of the lyceum and now a postgraduate researcher at MIPT. The school emphasizes engineering education, and robotics is taught as a structured discipline with hands‑on practice.
A Full Production Cycle
The student team works in a well‑equipped lab that supports a complete production cycle. They manufacture parts using multiple types of 3D printers—from standard models to photopolymer printers that deliver high‑precision components. Long printing sessions are complemented by laser engravers, which allow rapid fabrication of wooden elements. Some equipment was purchased with regional support, but many tools and components are developed by the students themselves.
The prosthetic hand project emerged from a genuine engineering workflow: the students designed the housing, printed components, assembled electronics, and programmed the motion‑control system. This process helped them study mechatronics and computer‑vision algorithms, which later formed the basis of their second project—a telescope with automatic targeting.
Future Engineers
Students from the lyceum are already competing in engineering competitions, from “Big Challenges” to “Engineers of the Future.” One team member became a prizewinner at the “Start in Innovation” competition. Their projects continue to progress thanks to guidance from their mentor and access to modern digital technologies.
Even a school environment can become a platform for real inventions capable of making a tangible impact. Big science often begins at a school desk.
