When most people see a cardboard box, an old wire or a discarded battery, they see scrap or something to throw away. But 12-year-old Levin Paulose from Kerala sees something entirely different, he sees the raw materials for his next invention in these ordinary materials.Meet Levin PauloseLevin is a normal school going boy who has been attracting attention online for his extraordinary series of DIY machines and robots. He builds these interesting robots using simple and easily available materials. Some of his incredible creations include a cardboard humanoid robot, an automatic food stirrer and a remote-controlled curtain system, among others.A home workshop made from scrapLevin’s projects are built around a simple collection of materials like:
- Cardboard
- Strings
- Wires
- Batteries
- Nuts and bolts
- Electric motors
Cardboard Robot to automatic food stirrer- An interesting thing about the young boy is that his projects are often designed around practical problems at home.
One of his noteworthy creations that drew attention online was a cardboard robot. He made it with the help of these materials. Reports have also highlighted a water-fetching device powered by a motor, showing how Levin’s interest goes beyond making something that simply looks like a robot.He has also experimented with an automatic food stirrer. The device is designed to keep stirring food while a person steps away from the stove, turning a routine kitchen task into a small automation project.Remote-controlled curtainsAnother project that brought Levin considerable attention was his homemade automatic curtain system. In a video shared on Instagram, we can see his discovery. He gathers the required components, connects the wires, tests the electrical setup and installs a motorised mechanism above the curtains. Then he uses a small remote control and presses a button. The motor starts working and the curtains open automatically.A regular household curtain has effectively been turned into an automated device using a handful of material. The curtain project gained him nearly 2.25 lakh followers in July 2026.He shows the process, not just the final inventionHis videos show the wiring, assembly and testing involved in making his creations work. Viewers get to see the invention taking shape instead of being presented with only a polished final product.His work caught the attention of Kerala’s leadershipLevin’s growing popularity eventually took his work beyond social media. He got an opportunity to meet Kerala Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan. The CM praised the young innovator and images and videos of their meeting further brought attention to Levin’s projects.
Levin (Instagram)
Robotics is often imagined as something that requires expensive kits, specialised laboratories, advanced computers and professional equipment. Levin’s projects offer a much more accessible picture of how an interest in engineering can begin.At 12, he is still at the beginning of his journeyFor a 12-year-old child, the biggest achievement may not be building a perfect robot but is building confidence. He did not wait for the perfect lab or the right tools or materials to begin his work. He has started with discarded cardboard, wires, motors and curiosity.What he builds 10 years from now is impossible to know. But if these early experiments are any indication, Levin has already discovered something more valuable than a fancy robotics kit: the habit of turning an idea into something real.
