art
health
artificial intelligence
human-machine interaction
learning + teaching
robotics
design
technology
architecture
consumer electronics
kids
music
wearable computing
human-computer interaction
data
bioengineering
politics
networks
sensors
machine learning
entertainment
cognition
economy
environment
social science
space
history
wellbeing
storytelling
interfaces
computer science
covid19
prosthetics
engineering
developing countries
ethics
civic technology
biology
privacy
alumni
social robotics
public health
social media
communications
augmented reality
urban planning
creativity
community
imaging
neurobiology
computer vision
synthetic biology
industry
virtual reality
affective computing
biomechanics
biotechnology
transportation
energy
food
government
startup
data visualization
social change
data science
social networks
zero gravity
ocean
blockchain
medicine
materials
genetics
fabrication
prosthetic design
agriculture
manufacturing
3d printing
behavioral science
climate change
gaming
racial justice
banking and finance
cognitive science
fashion
women
cryptocurrency
construction
diversity
electrical engineering
security
neural interfacing and control
bionics
ecology
systems
open source
performance
human augmentation
marginalized communities
microfabrication
autonomous vehicles
microbiology
internet of things
civic action
collective intelligence
language learning
natural language processing
perception
interactive
nonverbal behavior
mapping
visualization
physics
healthcare
mechanical engineering
physiology
water
nanoscience
chemistry
clinical science
long-term interaction
orthotic design
rfid
sports and fitness
networking
trust
mechatronics
voice
soft-tissue biomechanics
hacking
autism research
member company
pharmaceuticals
assistive technology
code
open access
biomedical imaging
social justice
exhibit
real estate
gender studies
news
cities
internet
science
mental health
law
algorithms
sustainability
cells
business
asl
culture
Enhancing human physical capability
Space Exploration Initiative
Professor Hugh Herr and graduate student Christopher Shallal are working on next-generation biomimetic limbs.
PhD student is designing and building a sustainable care and delivery model in Sierra Leone
We've designed a health system strengthening model to support and expand the prosthetic and orthotic sector that cares for people wit…
The Road to 2050, a six-part docuseries from The Franklin Institute, examines the ways that today's technology will shape the future.
Lower extremity amputation leads to limitations of biological function of individuals, which leads to challenges remaining physically activ…
Augmenting and mediating human experience, interaction, and perception with sensor networks
Magnetomicrometry uses implantable magnets to track the position of muscles, potentially improving the control and efficacy of prosthetics.
Magnetomicrometry has exciting prospects for the control of wearable robotics, including prostheses and exoskeletons.
Two research papers published by Brown and MIT researchers focus on the possibility of employing improved muscle tracking technology.
Using a new technology, researchers hope to create better control systems for prosthetic limbs.
Existing upper extremity prosthesis controllers have limited functionality and place high cognitive demands on users, both of which contrib…
A team of Boston surgeons and scientists has developed a new approach to amputation.
The prosthetic interface consists of a compliant liner and rigid socket, and conventionally has been made through a very hands-on artisinal…
As we work to improve prosthetic care in the US and in countries around the world, we are committed to learning from our most valuable asse…
Yeon, Seong Ho, et al. "Flexible Dry Electrodes for EMG Acquisition within Lower Extremity Prosthetic Sockets." 2020 8th IEEE RAS/EMBS International Conference for Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics (BioRob). IEEE.
Designing for, with, and by nature
SpaceHuman is a soft robotics device designed to facilitate the exploration of environments with reduced gravity in a view of democratizati…
Alum Shriya Srinivasan, Dr. Matthew Carty, climber Jim Ewing, and others join STAT and Nova PBS for a conversation about the Augmented film.
"Augmented" is a Nova PBS documentary episode that premiers Wednesday, 2/23, featuring Biomechatronics group head Hugh Herr.
Augmented is a Nova PBS documentary produced by STAT News, which follows the development of a new amputation procedure and bionic prostheses
Graduate student Lucy Du designs novel prosthetics and seeks to inspire others to pursue engineering.
As developers of prosthetic technology, we’re dedicated to understanding the challenges that people with limb loss face, not just after amp…
C. R. Taylor, S. S. Srinivasan, S. H. Yeon, M. K. O'Donnell, T. J. Roberts, H. M. Herr, Magnetomicrometry, Sci.Robot. 6, eabg0656 (2021), DOI: 10.1126/scirobotics.abg0656
Humans can accurately sense the position, speed, and torque of their limbs, even with their eyes shut. This sense, known as proprioception,…
Three-dimensional Digital Image Correlation (3D-DIC) is a non-contact optical-numerical technique for evaluating the dynamic mechanica…
This research track focuses on the use of computational (and experimental) techniques to understand the biomechanical behavior of human tis…
The design of next-generation bionic ankles and knees aims to improve bionic actuators on all metrics: range of motion, power density, band…
Mechanical, electrical, and dynamic control systems recreate biological behavior with synthetic hardware.
Nerve-Muscle Graft Chamber and micro-channel arrays tor interface to peripheral nerves for prosthesis control. This research effort co…
Optogenetic techniques have recently been applied to peripheral nerves as a scientific tool with the translatable goal…
Although there have been great advances in the control of lower extremity prostheses, transitioning between terrains such as ramps or stair…
Recent advances in artificial limbs have resulted in the provision of powered ankle and knee function for lower extremity amputees and powe…
Read about the first upper-limb amputation performed using the AMI procedure created by Media Lab researchers + Brigham and Women’s Hospital
A whole new mode of communication between prosthesis and user.
A recent feature in Designboom highlights research conducted by the Biomechatronics group that describes magnetomicrometry.
Amputation, muscle weakness, and nerve damage can make it difficult to perform simple daily tasks. In this project, we are developing a mi…
We plan to use magnetomicrometry to provide natural control over prosthetic limbs
Hugh Herr discusses the implications of the technology behind his work, from regenerative medicine and surgery to elderly mobility.
Reconnecting muscle pairs during amputation gives patients more sensory feedback from the limb.
Acquisition of surface electromyography (sEMG) from a person with an amputated lower extremity (LE) during prosthesis-assisted walking rema…
For the robotics category of the innovation series, the USPS chose the bionic prosthesis designed by Media Lab PhD graduate Matt Carney
The stamp is part of a new USPS series on innovation, representing computing, biomedicine, genome sequencing, robotics, and solar technology
Everett Lawson and Matt Carney worked with Biomechatronics group head Hugh Herr to fit Everett with a bionic prosthesis.
Developed by a team of Media Lab researchers, SpaceHuman is a seahorse-inspired additive prosthetic for use in microgravity environments.
Matt Carney discusses his interest in humanoid robots and the importance of design aesthetics and user experience in developing prostheses.
Cristina Quinn profiles Morgan Stickney, an elite swimmer who's the first person to undergo a bilateral Ewing amputation.
A research team, including members of the Biomechatronics group, devises a new surgery for hand amputations and prostheses.
Morgan Stickney is an elite swimmer who's helping pave the way for the next generation of bionic prosthetics and para-athletes.
Envisioning the future (and challenges) of designing affordable technology-enabled mobility devices.
S. S. Srinivasan, M. J. Carty, P. W. Calvaresi, T. R. Clites, B. E. Maimon, C. R. Taylor, A. N. Zorzos, H. Herr, On prosthetic control : A regenerative agonist-antagonist myoneural interface, 2, eaan2971 (2017).
Because old-school surgical amputation hasn’t kept up with modern-day medicine.
Electrical stimulation (FES) is the current clinical stimulation modality used to restore function and provide therapy in a variety of clin…
New optogenetic technique could help restore limb movement, treat muscle tremor.
New device gives an amputee the ability to feel the location of his foot
K. Endo and H. Herr. Human walking model predicts joint mechanics, electromyography and mechanical economy, IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS), St. Louis, MO, Oct. 2009.
K. Endo, E. Swart, H. M. Herr, An artificial gastrocnemius for a transtibial prosthesis, Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, EMBC, 2009 Annual International Conference of the IEEE, pp.5034-5037, Sep. 2009.
R. Kram, A. M. Grabowski, C. P. McGowan, M. B. Brown, and H. M. Herr. Counterpoint: Artificial legs do not make artificially fast running speeds possible, Journal of Applied Physiology, vol. 108, no. 4, pp. 1012–1014, Apr. 2010.
M. F. Eilenberg, H. Geyer, and H. M. Herr. Control of a powered ankle-foot prosthesis based on a neuromuscular model, IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 164-173, 2010.
W. Farahat and H. M. Herr. Optimal workloop energetics of muscle-actuated systems an impedance matching view, PLoS Computational Biology, vol. 6, no. 6, 2010.
H. Geyer and H. Herr. A muscle-reflex model that encodes principles of legged mechanics produces human walking dynamics and muscle activities, IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems & Rehabilitation Engineering, 2010.
E. C. Martinez-Villalpando, L. M. Mooney, G. A. Elliott and H. M. Herr. Antagonistic Active Knee Prosthesis. A Metabolic Cost of Walking Comparison with a Variable-Damping Prosthetic Knee, Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, EMBC, 2011 Annual International Conference of the IEEE, 2011.
G. Elliott, G.S. Sawicki, A. Marecki, H. Herr. The biomechanics and energetics of human running using an elastic knee exoskeleton, International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics, 2013.
D. Hill and H. M. Herr. Effects of a powered ankle-foot prosthesis on kinetic loading of the contralateral limb: a case series, Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics, 2013.
J. Wang, O. A. Kannape, and H. M. Herr Proportional EMG Control of Ankle Plantar Flexion in a Powered Transtibial Prosthesis, Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics, 2013
L. M. Mooney and H. M. Herr Continuously-Variable Series-Elastic Actuator, Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics, 2013