An 18-year-old wanted to make advanced robotics cheaper so he built a high-precision sensor that costs less than $25; similar devices can cost hundreds or thousands

An 18-year-old student from Texas has taken aim at one of robotics’ less glamorous but important problems: expensive precision sensors.

Frank Lucci, a student from San Antonio, developed SubArc, a compact rotary sensor designed to help robots determine their exact position and movement. The striking part is the price. Lucci’s prototype costs less than $25, potentially making it far more affordable than comparable high-resolution sensors that can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

Why robot sensors matter

Robots need to know where their moving parts are and how far they have rotated. Rotary encoders perform that job by translating mechanical movement into digital information that a computer can interpret.


They are crucial in precision robotics, but high-resolution versions can be expensive. That can put sophisticated robotics projects out of reach for students, independent researchers and small teams working with limited budgets.

Lucci wanted to tackle that cost barrier with SubArc, which he developed as part of his engineering work for the Regeneron Science Talent Search.

How SubArc works

Rather than relying on an expensive conventional setup, Lucci designed a magnetic system capable of detecting rotation with high precision.

The project also focuses on keeping the sensor useful outside controlled laboratory conditions. Its design is intended to withstand dusty environments, which could matter for robots operating outdoors or in challenging settings.

Another important part of Lucci’s approach was the way the sensor’s electronic signals are processed. By rethinking that part of the system, he was able to simplify the design and reduce the number and cost of components without giving up the precision he was targeting.

The result is a small, customizable and open-source sensor that costs under $25—a fraction of the price of many commercially available alternatives.

He started small

Lucci didn't begin by trying to build a massive, finished robotics system.

Instead, he experimented with smaller versions of his design and developed the technology with the possibility of scaling it later. That approach helped him focus on achieving high accuracy while keeping manufacturing costs low.

The open-source nature of SubArc could also allow other students, researchers and robotics enthusiasts to modify the design for their own projects.

His interest goes beyond robotics

Lucci's ambitions aren't limited to building cheaper sensors.

The San Antonio student attends BASIS San Antonio Shavano, where he founded his school's aerospace club and helped establish its robotics team. He also competes in cross-country running.

His interest in space technology has given him an opportunity to work on projects far removed from a typical school engineering lab.

Lucci previously volunteered at Astroport Space Technologies, a company working on lunar construction technology, before later becoming an intern there. During his time with the company, he contributed to a robotic frame designed to maneuver equipment involved in making bricks from lunar soil.

That experience gave him a glimpse of the kinds of machines that may eventually have to operate on the Moon, where robots will face environments very different from those found on Earth.

From lunar robots to a collection of sunglasses

For all his interest in aerospace and engineering, Lucci has an unexpectedly fashionable hobby: collecting promotional sunglasses frames.

He reportedly has more than 30 frames and even has prescription lenses specially made to fit their different shapes.

It's an unusual contrast to his engineering work—but it also reflects how varied his interests are outside the laboratory.

Why SubArc could matter

The biggest idea behind Lucci's project isn't simply building a cheaper sensor. It's the possibility of lowering the financial barrier to experimenting with precision robotics.

If inexpensive, open-source hardware can deliver the accuracy researchers and students need, more people could have the opportunity to build sophisticated machines without spending thousands of dollars on specialized components.

For an 18-year-old inventor, SubArc represents a remarkably practical solution to a problem that could otherwise keep advanced robotics technology out of reach for smaller teams.

And Lucci's work points to a broader lesson in engineering: sometimes innovation isn't about adding more expensive technology—it is about finding a smarter way to achieve the same result.