3:27 p.m., May 22, 2008--Hugh Herr, director of the Biomechatronics Group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab, will give the keynote speech at UD's fifth annual Center for Biomedical Engineering Research Symposium at 2:15 p.m., Friday, May 23, in Room 106 of the Center for Composite Materials.
Herr, an associate professor in the media arts and sciences program at MIT and the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Science and Technology, works to apply principles of biomechanics and neural control to guide designs for wearable robotic systems for human rehabilitation and physical augmentation. His designs include a new class of human-powered mechanisms that amplify endurance for cyclic anaerobic activities.
Herr recently was in the news for his work studying the running mechanics of Oscar Pistorious, a double amputee sprinter from South Africa. Pistorius had been banned from competing in the Olympics because of concerns his prosthetic feet would give him an unfair advantage over able-bodied runners. Based on the research by a team led by Herr, Pistorius won his appeal and may be eligible to compete in the Olympics should he post an acceptable qualifying time.
Herr has also built devices such as elastic running shoes that increase metabolic economy, leg exoskeletons that augment load-carrying abilities and powered mechanisms that can assist in the treatment of leg disabilities caused by amputation, stroke, cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis.
During his presentation, Herr will discuss the ways in which agonist-antagonist actuation, polyarticular limb architecture and reflex behaviors can result in quiet, stable and economic legged mechanisms for walking and running. He will present neuromechanical models that explain the importance of limb morphology and neural control on locomotory performance and use these models to present design strategies for prosthetic and orthotic mechanisms.
The Center for Biomedical Engineering Research Symposium was established to highlight the excellent biomedical-related research performed by students at UD. Before Herr's speech, the symposium will feature posters and podium presentations to present research from this year.
For more information, contact Kurt Manal, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, at (302) 831-4463 or at [manal@udel.edu].
