Two-year-old Zaxton Waters, from Texas, has been missing three fingers on his left hand since birth.
However, the little boy has a pretty special older brother who is determined to help the toddler, and asked his former robotics teacher to help him.
Originally, Christian thought of using Leander High School's 3D printer to create a pre-made hand for Zaxton but this design was made for an adult and wouldn't fit on Zaxton's tiny arm.
"Our teacher gave him a better idea,” junior Jacob Ostrander told
KVUE.
Herb had the idea of asking Jacob and two other students, James Bell and Lexi Wilson, to see if they could design a child-sized hand.
It took several attempts but finally the team created a design they were happy with, the latest model opening and closing with a bend of the wrist.
“We had Zaxton come in one day and he tested it and he loved it, but it didn’t quite fit yet,” Jacob told
The Roar, the school's student newspaper last month. “We’re trying to make it sleeker, more useful, easier to use, and of course fit.”
The latest version allows Zaxton to move his hand but the students are making improvements all the time and they also plan to add a logo of one of the toddler's favourite superheros to the model.
This intricate design won the state title in the Skills USA competition and the students hope to make it to the national championship event in Kansas City this summer, but they need funds to do so.
"We are not able to afford the trip at this moment, and need assistance," Jacob wrote on a
GoFundMe site set up to raise money for the trip.
"If you are able to help, we would greatly appreciate any donations you can give."
