Nagpur: While most Class 12 students spend their free time preparing for competitive exams, 17-year-old Hiten Dharpure has spent his time building world’s smallest fully functional electromechanical robotic arm — a feat that has earned him a place in the Guinness World Records.A student of the city’s School of Scholars, Atrey Layout, Dharpure, developed a robotic arm measuring 39.25 mm, surpassing the previous Guinness record of 44.49 mm held by an innovator from Indiana, USA. Despite its miniature size, the robotic arm is fully functional and can grip, lift and transport tiny objects using independent three-axis movement.For Dharpure, the achievement is more than just a world record. “I wanted to prove that ultra-precision micro-engineering does not require a high-end laboratory. Complex engineering can be achieved using accessible technology from a home workshop,” he told TOI. The project also marks his third consecutive Guinness World Record. After creating world’s largest synchronised robot dance in 2024 and the world’s smallest weather station in 2025, Dharpure set himself a personal goal of achieving a new global record every year.“I wanted my 2026 project to push the absolute physical limits of micro-engineering. When I discovered that the record for the smallest robotic arm was held in the United States, I felt motivated to bring the title to India as my contribution towards the ‘Viksit Bharat’ vision,” he said. Dharpure envisioned the robotic arm as a technology that could one day support fields requiring exceptional precision, particularly medicine.He hopes future versions of such devices could assist doctors in performing minimally invasive procedures and highly accurate medical interventions. Beyond healthcare, he believes micro-robotics could find applications in semiconductor manufacturing and space exploration.“The robotic arm works much like a human arm, albeit on a microscopic scale. An Arduino-based electronic control system sends Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) signals to micro servo motors, enabling the arm to move independently across three axes while gripping objects with precision. The entire system was designed from scratch using advanced Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software, while the programming was written in C/C++,” he told TOI, adding the robotic arm’s body was fabricated using 3D printing.Although the project took only two months to complete, Dharpure says the journey involved numerous failed prototypes and painstaking refinements. “The biggest challenge was fitting the control module, wiring and actuators inside a 39.25 mm frame without compromising structural strength. Many prototypes snapped because the walls became too thin, while others failed because motors could not synchronise inside such a cramped housing,” he explained.To secure a Guinness World Record, Dharpure had to submit extensive technical documentation, videos demonstrating the arm’s functionality, independent witness statements and precise measurements verified using a calibrated mechanical micrometre screw gauge.Looking ahead, Dharpure intends to continue pushing the boundaries of engineering while pursuing higher studies. His long-term ambition is to work in a leading global technology company, contribute to cutting-edge innovations and continue creating inventions that showcase India’s engineering capabilities on the world stage.
