David Aguilar's mission to help others after building his own prosthetic arm from LEGO
David Aguilar, an Andorran inventor born with Poland syndrome, has gained recognition for building functional prosthetic arms using LEGO bricks. His project, which began as a childhood hobby, has evolved into a record-breaking endeavor that now includes helping other children with limb differences.
Why it matters
It showcases the potential for low-cost, accessible engineering solutions to improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities.
There's no denying that David Aguilar is an inspiration, and quite frankly, a genius.
The Andorran inventor was born with Poland syndrome, a congenital disease that stopped his right forearm from fully developing.
At the age of nine, his engineering skills were already strong enough that he built himself a prosthetic arm with the LEGO(r) bricks he found in his toy box.
Named MK I (Mark I) - a nod to the suit worn by Iron Man - the prosthesis was revolutionary, but not totally fit for daily use.
By 18, he had improved on his design enough to create the first functional LEGO prosthetic arm and become a record breaker.
Now aged 26 and up to MK V, David - aka "Hand Solo" - has built LEGO arms for others, given a talk at NASA, and even written a book and created a videogame alongside his supportive dad Ferran.
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