Books
Books exploring science and robotics, for young readers and researchers.
Children’s books
Robots (DK findout!)
Nathan Lepora
· DK · 64 pages · Ages 7–9 · ISBN 9780241315897
Amazon UK 4.8/5 · 139 ratings (checked 16 October 2026)
Silver award · MadeForMums Awards, children’s books series category
An illustrated introduction to how robots sense, think and move, and the roles they play in our lives.
View book
Theme Park Science
Nathan Lepora
2008 · TickTock · 4 books, 32 pages each · Ages 8–11
Explore the forces, motion and machinery behind theme park rides.
High Speed Thrills · Twists and Turns · Marvelous Machinery · Falling for Fun
View series
Atoms and Molecules
Invisible Worlds
Nathan Lepora
2011 · Marshall Cavendish · 48 pages · Ages 9–11
Discover the particles that make up our world, from the structure of atoms to molecules, computer chips and nanotechnology.
View bookOther children’s books and contributions
Other authored books
- Chromium — Elements series · Marshall Cavendish · 32 pages · Ages 9–11
- Molybdenum — Elements series · Marshall Cavendish · 32 pages · Ages 9–11
Contributions to multi-author books
- Pro/Con 3 New Science (publisher catalogue, PDF) — Grolier/Scholastic
- Growing Up with Science — Grolier/Scholastic
- Encyclopaedia of the Earth and Physical Sciences — Marshall Cavendish
- Reformation, Exploration and Empire — Grolier/Scholastic
Academic books
Living Machines
A handbook of research in biomimetics and biohybrid systems
Edited by Tony Prescott, Nathan Lepora and Paul Verschure
· Oxford University Press · 656 pages · ISBN 9780199674923
Winner · BMA Basic & Clinical Sciences Book Award 2019
A research handbook exploring how biological principles inspire robotics, artificial intelligence and systems that combine living and engineered components.
View bookMy chapters
- A roadmap for Living Machines research
N Lepora, P Verschure, T Prescott (2018)
- Building blocks
N Lepora (2018)
- Touch
N Lepora (2018)
- Decision making
N Lepora (2018)
- Biohybrid systems
N Lepora (2018)
Living Machines conferences
Biomimetic and Biohybrid Systems
Proceedings of the International Conference on Biomimetic and Biohybrid Systems (Living Machines).
Springer · Co-editor, 2012–2018 · Lead editor, 2013 and 2016
Research on technologies inspired by living systems, and systems that combine biological and artificial components.
View proceedingsMy conference papers · 17 papers
2022
- Active inference for artificial touch: A biologically-plausible tactile control method
P Craig, L Aitchison, N Lepora (2022)
2018
- Active touch with a biomimetic 3D-printed whiskered robot
N Lepora, N Burnus, Y Tao, L Cramphorn (2018)
- Slip detection on natural objects with a biomimetic tactile sensor
J James, N Lepora (2018)
- Texture perception with a biomimetic optical tactile sensor
N Pestell, N Lepora (2018)
2016
- A biomimetic fingerprint improves spatial tactile perception
L Cramphorn, B Ward-Cherrier, N Lepora (2016)
- Discrimination-based perception for robot touch
E Roscow, C Kent, U Leonards, N Lepora (2016)
- Exploiting symmetry to generalize biomimetic touch
B Ward-Cherrier, L Cramphorn, N Lepora (2016)
- Force sensing with a biomimetic fingertip
M Giannaccini, S Whyle, N Lepora (2016)
- Gaussian process regression for a biomimetic tactile sensor
K Aquilina, D Barton, N Lepora (2016)
- Tactile exploration by contour following using a biomimetic fingertip
N Pestell, B Ward-Cherrier, L Cramphorn, N Lepora (2016)
2015
- Active control for object perception and exploration with a robotic hand
U Martinez-Hernandez, N Lepora, T Prescott (2015)
2013
- A SOLID case for active Bayesian perception in robot touch
N Lepora, U Martinez-Hernandez, T Prescott (2013)
- Angle and position perception for exploration with active touch
U Martinez-Hernandez, T Dodd, T Prescott, N Lepora (2013)
- Towards a roadmap for Living Machines
N Lepora, P Verschure, T Prescott (2013)
2012
- Texture classification through tactile sensing
U Martinez-Hernandez, H Barron-Gonzalez, M Evans, N Lepora, T Dodd, T Prescott (2012)
- The state-of-the-art in biomimetics
N Lepora, P Verschure, T Prescott (2012)
- Towards a framework for tactile perception in social robotics
H Barron-Gonzalez, N Lepora, U Martinez-Hernandez, M Evans, T Prescott (2012)