Teenager Uses Lego
to Build Robotic ArmD
avid Aguilar has always
loved Lego. Born without a
right forearm due to a rare
genetic condition, at the age of
just nine he built a rudimentary
artificial arm for himself using the
popular plastic construction toys.
“As a child I was very nervous
to be in front of other guys,
because I was different,” he says,
“but that didn’t stop me believing
in my dreams.”
As he got older, he kept working
on his prosthetic design, and
now, aged 19 and studying
bio-engineering at university in
Barcelona, he has designed a
robotic arm with an electric motor
inside, again using Lego pieces.
He says his aim is to show
that nothing is impossible; after
university,hewantstocreate
affordableroboticlimbsfor
peoplepeoplewhowhoneedneedthemthem.Animalsin ashion
ThegrassrootsAustralian eco-
fashion brand Choose Your
Animal was created by Newcastle-
based firefighter Richard Keane
and his environmental scientist
wife Ursula, to help the planet
and honour the memory of
Richard’s older sister Dr Tanya
Keane, who loved animals.
Active wear such as board
shorts, swimmers and socks are
all made with fabrics created from
recycled plastic bottles, fishing
nets, carpets and textiles.
Each garment features the image
of a specific high-risk animal
species such as board shorts
featuring sloths or yoga pants with
elephants. Ten per cent of the
profits go directly to a registered
charity dedicated to protecting
that particular species.
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