LEGO is a valuable tool in mechanical engineering because it supports low-fidelity prototyping—a quick, low-cost way to explore early design ideas. Engineers can rapidly build, test, and modify concepts before moving on to complex development.
Patrick Faulkner, Lead Engineer at Accu, explains that LEGO stands out because of its versatility, accessibility in educational settings, and ease of modification. Modular pieces allow designers to experiment with structural layouts and simple mechanical functions at minimal cost. When something doesn’t work, models can be quickly taken apart and rebuilt, helping engineers identify design challenges early. More advanced LEGO components—such as gears, axles, motors, and sensors—also allow basic physical and motion prototyping.
Examples of LEGO prototyping include building a small robotic arm to observe how pivot points and linkages behave, or assembling a simple gear train to test whether gear ratios work as intended.
These same principles help children develop engineering skills through play. Starting with a question—such as “Can you build something that moves?” or “Can you make a bridge strong enough for your toy car?”—encourages purposeful building and testing. Adding simple constraints, like size or lifting requirements, introduces real-world problem solving.
Choosing LEGO sets with gears, wheels, axles, and beams helps children understand movement, structure, and cause and effect. Sorting pieces before building, starting with a strong base, and adding one component at a time all reflect real engineering practices. When a build fails, rebuilding and trying again teaches iteration and problem solving.
Testing the final structure by pressing on it or placing a small toy on top helps children learn about balance, weight, and support—showing why engineers always test designs.
LEGO also supports health and safety awareness. Ben Massey, MEng at innDex, notes that a collapsing LEGO tower becomes a safe, physical example of structural failure. This helps children learn caution, testing, and teamwork in a controlled environment, reinforcing that safety is a core priority in engineering.