The object
Hugh Herr led work on a powered ankle-foot prosthesis commercialized as the BiOM T2, whose sensors, springs, actuators and microprocessors actively propel the wearer. MIT reports that the device was the first foot-and-ankle prosthesis to add energy to gait rather than merely return it.
01
What Hugh did
Led development of the powered ankle-foot prosthesis commercialized as the BiOM T2.
02
Why it matters
The powered ankle-foot prosthesis was recognized by TIME among its top health inventions and demonstrated near-normal walking speed and metabolism for amputees.
03
Living-status check
MIT's current McGovern Institute profile lists Herr as an associate investigator, MIT Media Lab professor, and co-director of the K. Lisa Yang Center for Bionics in 2026.