Homayoon Kazerooni (, ) is an Iranian-born American
roboticist
Robotics is the interdisciplinary study and practice of the design, construction, operation, and use of robots.
Within mechanical engineering, robotics is the design and construction of the physical structures of robots, while in computer s ...
,
mechanical engineer
Mechanical may refer to:
Machine
* Machine (mechanical), a system of mechanisms that shape the actuator input to achieve a specific application of output forces and movement
* Mechanical calculator, a device used to perform the basic operations o ...
, and professor. He serves as a professor of mechanical engineering, and the director of the
Berkeley Robotics and Human Engineering Laboratory (KAZ LAB) at the
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California), is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Berkeley, California, United States. Founded in 1868 and named after t ...
(U.C. Berkeley).
, University of California, Berkeley[, Berkeley Robotics and Human Engineering Laboratory] Kazerooni is also the co-founder of
Ekso Bionics and SuitX.
As a noted authority on robotics, he is frequently profiled and quoted in the media.
Early life and education
Homayoon Kazerooni was born in Tehran, Iran. Kazerooni emigrated to the United States in the late 1970s,
around the time of the
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution (, ), also known as the 1979 Revolution, or the Islamic Revolution of 1979 (, ) was a series of events that culminated in the overthrow of the Pahlavi dynasty in 1979. The revolution led to the replacement of the Impe ...
.
He has a
MS degree and
ME degree (1980) from University of Wisconsin–Madison. Kazerooni has a MS degree (1982); and he holds a Ph.D. (1985) in mechanical engineering from
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a Private university, private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Established in 1861, MIT has played a significant role in the development of many areas of moder ...
(MIT), with a focus on Human-Machine Systems.
Early in his career, Kazerooni was a recipient of the outstanding
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) is an American professional association that, in its own words, "promotes the art, science, and practice of multidisciplinary engineering and allied sciences around the globe" via "continuing edu ...
(ASME) Investigator Award.
Career
Kazerooni's work focuses on the control of human-machine systems specific to lower human extremities.
Early in his career Kazerooni led his team to successfully develop robotics systems that enhance human upper extremity strength. The results of this work led to a new class of intelligent assist devices currently being used by workers worldwide for manipulating heavy objects in distribution centers and factories. Kazerooni has also been conducting research on human performance in coordinated haptic-visual virtual environments under several contracts from
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the federal government of the United States, US federal government responsible for the United States ...
. Other research interests are biomimetic design, haptics, non-linear control systems, embedded systems, networked control systems, power regeneration, monopropellant and portable energy generation methods for mobile platforms.
In 2011, the Berkeley Robotics and Human Engineering Laboratory enabled Austin Whitney, a paraplegic student at the University of California, Berkeley, to walk for commencement. Kazerooni started a project to develop low-cost exoskeleton systems to enable independence for individuals with gait deficiencies called the Austin Project; named after the first pilot for their medical exoskeleton.
He has served in a variety of leadership roles in the robotics community notably editor of two journals: ASME Journal of Dynamics Systems and Control and IEEE Transactions on Mechatronics.
Ekso Bionics and SuitX
Ekso Bionics and SuitX exist as company spinoffs from the research at Berkeley Robotics and Human Engineering Laboratory.
Ekso Bionics (formerly known as Berkeley ExoWorks, and later Berkeley Bionics) was founded in 2005, and Kazerooni was a co-founder alongside Russ Angold, and Nathan Harding. Ekso Bionics produced exoskeletons specifically for work assistance, one of the early products was eLegs. After developing
BLEEX, ExoHiker, and ExoClimber – three super-light,
load-carrying exoskeletons, Ekso Bionics and his team created
HULC (Human Universal Load Carrier). It is the first energetically autonomous, orthotic, lower extremity exoskeleton, providing the ability for its user to carry 200-pound weights over any sort of terrain for an extended period of time without undue effort. These exoskeletons reduce the possibility of the wearer becoming fatigued and reaching their physiological endurance limit during critical military or industrial missions. HULC technology is currently licensed to
Lockheed Martin
The Lockheed Martin Corporation is an American Arms industry, defense and aerospace manufacturer with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta on March 15, 1995. It is headquartered in North ...
for military applications.
In 2014, Ekso Bionics went public.
Kazerooni worked on extending his technology to aid persons who have experienced a stroke, spinal cord injuries or medical conditions that obligate them to use a wheelchair, which inspired the formation of SuitX (formerly U.S. Bionics).
SuitX was founded by Kazerooni and headquartered in Emeryville, California. SuitX produces exoskeletons for healthcare, including aid for neurological and mobility disorders.
In November 2021, SuitX was acquired by German medical prosthetics maker
Ottobock.
Kazerooni's SuitX work, ''PhoeniX Exoskeleton,'' was featured in the traveling art exhibition, ''Designs for Different Futures'' (2020) at the
Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA) is an List of art museums#North America, art museum originally chartered in 1876 for the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. The main museum building was completed in 1928 on Fairmount, a hill located at ...
, the
Art Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago, founded in 1879, is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the United States. The museum is based in the Art Institute of Chicago Building in Chicago's Grant Park (Chicago), Grant Park. Its collection, stewa ...
, and the
Walker Art Center
The Walker Art Center is a multidisciplinary contemporary art center in the Lowry Hill, Minneapolis, Lowry Hill neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. The Walker is one of the most-visited modern and contemporary art museums in ...
.
Criticisms
Critics of the Kazerooni designed exoskeletons have pointed out the high cost of the devices, alongside a narrow criteria for disability use.
These exoskeleton devices have offered few scientifically proven health effects, and their research has been partially funded by the
United States Armed Forces
The United States Armed Forces are the Military, military forces of the United States. U.S. United States Code, federal law names six armed forces: the United States Army, Army, United States Marine Corps, Marine Corps, United States Navy, Na ...
.
Additionally exoskeletons are not covered by health insurance in the United States, making them significantly more expensive than a wheelchair.
Awards
He has won
Discover magazine's Technological Innovation Award, and the McKnight-Land Grant Professorship. His research was recognized as the most innovative technology of the year in New York Times Magazine.
Patents
* Human power amplifier for lifting load with slack prevention apparatus
* Device and Method for Wireless Lifting Assist Devices
* Pneumatic human power amplifier module
* Mechanical grapple for grabbing and holding sacks and bags
Mechanical grapple for grabbing and holding sacks and bags
/ref>
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kazerooni, Homayoon
Living people
Year of birth missing (living people)
University of Wisconsin–Madison College of Engineering alumni
MIT School of Engineering alumni
UC Berkeley College of Engineering faculty
Iranian roboticists
Engineers from Tehran
Academics from Tehran
People from Kazerun
American roboticists
Iranian expatriate academics in the United States
Iranian emigrants to the United States