Homayoon Kazerooni

Who is Homayoon Kazerooni?

Homayoon Kazerooni is a roboticist and professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley.

Dr. Kazerooni is the director of the Berkeley Robotics and Human Engineering Laboratory and also the Co-founder and Chief Scientist of Berkeley Bionics. The Berkeley Robotics and Human Engineering Laboratory is also affectionately known as "KAZ LAB".

Dr. Kazerooni’s work focuses on the control of human-machine systems specific to lower human extremities. After developing BLEEX, ExoHiker, and ExoClimber – three super-light, load-carrying exoskeletons – Berkeley Bionics and his team created HULC. 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 for military applications. Dr. Kazerooni is currently working on extending this technology to aid persons who have experienced a stroke, spinal cord injuries or medical conditions that obligate them to use a wheelchair.