Two young British brothers have flown the Union Flag on the international stage after inventing an affordable Braille printer that could transform access to reading materials for blind people around the world.
Tom Hunt, 19, and his younger brother Felix, 16, have won international recognition for their ingenious invention, BrailleGo!, which can be built for around £100 using readily available components and 3D-printed parts.
Representing the United Kingdom at the 2026 World Robot Olympiad European Open Championship in Zagreb, Croatia, the brothers won the Best Start-Up Idea award and secured second place in both the European and global rankings in the Senior Future Innovators category.
Their achievement came against an international field of competitors, with the event bringing together 220 national-winning teams from 45 countries.
Tom, who began studying Design Engineering at the University of Bristol in September, developed the technology alongside Felix under their team name, Hunt Robotics.
The compact, portable printer is designed to produce small quantities of Braille documents, including children’s books, museum guides, public information leaflets and meeting agendas.
With conventional commercial Braille printers often costing more than £1,000, the brothers wanted to create something significantly more affordable and accessible.
But behind their remarkable invention lies a deeply personal family story.
Their grandfather, a Yorkshire-born engineer who helped with the early development of the famous Jodrell Bank Observatory, lost his sight in his sixties.
Through their mother’s volunteering with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), Tom and Felix also became aware of the difficulties people and organisations can face when trying to obtain printed Braille materials.
Determined to make a difference, they set about designing a device that would not only be affordable but could also be reproduced by others.
And in another demonstration of the generosity behind their work, the brothers plan to make the software, design files and assembly instructions freely available as an open-source project.
This would allow schools, charities and communities around the world to build, adapt and improve their own Braille printers rather than having to purchase expensive commercial equipment.
Speaking about their international success, Tom said: “BrailleGo! was a real challenge to design and build, so seeing it work and produce readable Braille, and then doing so well in Zagreb, is a fantastic feeling.
“I’m proud that we made something affordable that could be genuinely useful, and I hope other people will build on it once we share the designs.”
Felix was equally delighted with the experience.
“Going to Zagreb was an amazing experience. I really enjoyed meeting teams from around the world and seeing all the different ideas they had come up with.
“Building BrailleGo! taught me a lot about engineering, problem-solving and teamwork, and I’m excited to take that experience with me when I go to university.”
The international judging panel praised the brothers’ technical expertise, particularly their use of 3D design and electronics, alongside their teamwork and determination to tackle a genuine social challenge.
Judges were also impressed that the pair had developed their invention independently, without the support of a coding or maker club.
Their achievement has earned praise from organisations working to improve the lives of people with sight loss.
Eleanor Southwood, Director of Impact and External Affairs at Fight for Sight, said: “The concept of an affordable, portable Braille printer for short-run needs is brilliant, and I can imagine many uses for it. Well done, Tom and Felix.”
Gareth James, co-founder of STEMpura, which leads Britain’s participation in the World Robot Olympiad, said: “Tom and Felix have shown what young people can do when they are given a real problem to solve and a stage to solve it on.
“BrailleGo! is brilliant engineering with a generous heart, and we are proud to have been able to see them develop from the UK final to Zagreb.”
The competition was held under the theme Robots Meet Culture, challenging young innovators to explore how technology could improve access to arts, heritage and cultural experiences.
The brothers’ success demonstrates the extraordinary potential of young British engineers to compete and succeed on the world stage.
It also continues a proud family connection to British scientific achievement, from their grandfather’s contribution to the development of Jodrell Bank to their own pioneering work in accessible technology.
And while their invention has already won international recognition, its greatest contribution may still lie ahead if their plans to share the designs freely enable people around the world to benefit.
Two talented young Britons, an ingenious invention and an international award. A wonderful example of British innovation, determination and generosity at its very best.
