PeopleofSuperintelligence

Researcher

Homayoon Kazerooni

Homayoon Kazerooni is a mechanical engineering researcher whose robotics work connects human movement with computer-controlled exoskeletons. He earned a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from MIT in 1985, then developed BLEEX and HULC with Berkeley teams. He founded Ekso Bionics and SuitX and helped turn Berkeley exoskeleton research into systems for mobility support and workplace use. After Ottobock acquired SuitX in 2021, he remained its Chief Scientist; he became a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors in 2024. As of October 2026, he is a Berkeley professor and directs its Robotics and Human Engineering Laboratory.

Timeline

  1. 1985

    An MIT doctorate

    He completes a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering at MIT in 1985, focusing on human-machine systems.

  2. 2004

    BLEEX follows its wearer

    He and Berkeley researchers develop BLEEX in 2004, a powered lower-body exoskeleton whose computer algorithms calculate movement in concert with its wearer.

  3. 2005–2009

    Ekso Bionics and HULC

    He founds Ekso Bionics in 2005. In 2009, his Berkeley team develops HULC with Berkeley Bionics as BLEEX's successor.

  4. 2011

    Founding SuitX

    He founds SuitX in 2011 with Berkeley colleagues to develop exoskeletons for people with mobility disorders and industrial workers.

  5. 2016

    The Phoenix exoskeleton

    His Berkeley lab develops the original technology for SuitX's Phoenix, unveiled in 2016 as a lighter, more agile exoskeleton for people with mobility disorders.

  6. 2021

    SuitX joins Ottobock

    Ottobock acquires all suitX shares in October 2021. Kazerooni remains with the company as Chief Scientist and is a Berkeley mechanical engineering professor.

  7. 2024

    A National Academy fellowship

    He is named a 2024 Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors.

  8. As of October 2026

    Professor and lab director

    He is a professor of mechanical engineering at UC Berkeley and director of the Berkeley Robotics and Human Engineering Laboratory.

  1. Google had the most people shaping AI every year from 2014 to 2025Our estimates of which organizations employed the most people shaping AI from 1961 to 2025, with a year-by-year chart.
  2. The United States employs an estimated 53% of people in our data with a known employment countryOur estimates of where AI careers are concentrated now and how countries’ shares of dated positions changed over time.
  3. 46% of living people in our data with known birth and employment countries work outside their birth countryOur estimate of cross-border careers in AI, from country of birth and the country of each current organization.
  4. More people shaping AI studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than at any other institutionOur estimates of where the people shaping AI studied and where their careers led, from education records in cited biographies.

Sources and credits

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  1. Homayoon Kazerooni en.wikipedia.org. Checked 19 October 2026.
  2. Homayoon Kazerooni - UC Berkeley Mechanical Engineering me.berkeley.edu. Checked 19 October 2026.
  3. 03.03.2004 - UC Berkeley Researchers Developing Robotic Exoskeleton that can Enhance Human Strength and Endurance newsarchive.berkeley.edu. Checked 19 October 2026.
  4. Engineers to Help Paraplegic Student Walk at Graduation | Research UC Berkeley vcresearch.berkeley.edu. Checked 19 October 2026.
  5. SuitX | Innovation & Entrepreneurship iande.berkeley.edu. Checked 19 October 2026.
  6. A new-generation exoskeleton helps the paralyzed to walk - Berkeley News news.berkeley.edu. Checked 19 October 2026.
  7. Ottobock Acquires Exoskeleton Specialist suitX corporate.ottobock.com. Checked 19 October 2026.
  8. UC Berkeley engineer Homayoon Kazerooni elected to the National Academy of Inventors - Berkeley News news.berkeley.edu. Checked 19 October 2026.