Peter Kirstein Lecture 2024: Hugh Herr

Abstract 

Critical to the advancement of bionic technology that emulates or extends normal physiological function is the design of tissue-synthetic interfaces connecting the human body with electromechanics.

In this talk, Hugh describes research activities underway to advance mechanical and neural interfaces for the functional enhancement of bionic limb devices.

He presents novel prosthetic, orthotic and exoskeletal limbs that behave dynamically like their biological counterpart, peripheral neural interfaces that serve as an electrical interface with the external bionic limb, and novel osseointegration technology for the mechanical and neural transmission of the bionic device to the biological limb.

Further, he presents a digital nervous system designed to artificially control paralyzed musculature for the restoration of motor function for persons with limb pathology. Finally, critical areas of future research are discussed that must be advanced to step towards the next generation of bionic limb systems.

UCL staff and students can view the recording of the lecture on Media Central:

Watch Lecture (UCL login)

About Professor Hugh Herr

Hugh Herr is creating bionic limbs that emulate the function of natural limbs. Time Magazine coined Dr. Herr the ‘Leader of the Bionic Age’ because of his revolutionary work in the emerging field of Biomechatronics - technology that marries human physiology with electromechanics.

A double amputee himself, he is responsible for breakthrough advances in bionic limbs that provide greater mobility and new hope to those with physical disabilities.

He is Professor of Media Arts and Sciences and Associate Investigator at the McGovern Institute at MIT. Professor Herr directs the MIT Biomechatronics Group and co-directs the K. Lisa Yang Center for Bionics.

Further reading and lectures from Professor Hugh Herr

About the event

UCL Computer Science celebrated the 5th edition of the annual Peter Kirstein Lecture series on Monday 3rd June 2024. This time we had the pleasure of hosting this hybrid event at our new site; UCL East campus in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, which houses our Robotics Lab, Sensor Systems team and Global Disability Hub (GDI Hub).

We were delighted to welcome Professor Hugh Herr as our esteemed guest speaker.

Hugh was selected by our team of co-organisers. As was Peter Kirstein’s wish, the events are planned by a new team of early-career researchers each year.  

The 2024 co-organiser team consisted of; Dr Amid Ayobi, Dr Sophia Bano and Dr He Wang, with oversight from Professor Steve Hailes and operational support from Vajeeha Farooq. 

Private Lab Tours and Demonstrations

The afternoon began with a private tour and demonstrations in our Robotics Lab for Professor Herr and guests from Peter Kirstein’s family. They saw demos from our CS Robotics team, researchers from WEISS and the Aspire CREATe Lab, headed by Professor Rui Louriero. These include demos of Assistive and Rehabilitation Technology, Surgical Robotics and AI, Soft Robotics and Legged Robotics. This was followed by a tour of our Global Disability Hub based at Marshgate.

Attendees of the lecture were invited to a pre-event 'Sparkling Afternoon Tea' in the café at Marshgate before proceeding to the lecture.

On the Design of Bionic Limbs: The Science of Tissue-Synthetic Interface

Professor Hugh Herr Explores the Future of Bionics at the Peter Kirstein Lecture 2024:

Professor Hugh Herr, co-director of the K. Lisa Yang Center for Bionics at MIT, recently delivered a captivating lecture at UCL, highlighting the transformative potential of bionics. Drawing inspiration from Leonardo da Vinci’s vision of human flight, Herr shared his personal journey—from losing both legs in a climbing accident to pioneering cutting-edge prosthetics that augment human capability.

After his accident, Professor Herr rejected societal labels of disability, instead viewing his body as a “blank slate” for innovation. By studying the natural world, he developed prosthetics inspired by animals like mountain goats and giraffes, which helped him outperform his previous climbing abilities. His personal experience led to a broader vision of how bionics could not only restore but surpass natural human functions.

Professor Herr also presented the revolutionary Agonist-Antagonist Myoneural Interface (AMI), a technology developed by his team in 2013. AMI reconnects muscle pairs and restores natural proprioception, allowing users of prosthetic limbs to experience a full range of motion and feedback. The approach has been successfully applied to lower-limb amputees, offering real-time control and sensory feedback, significantly improving their ability to navigate their environments.

A key focus of Herr’s research is ensuring the brain remains the central control mechanism for prosthetic limbs. Rather than relying solely on artificial intelligence or machine learning, the body’s natural sensors and neural pathways are integrated into the prosthetic system, allowing for seamless, intuitive movement.

In addition to his cutting-edge research, Professor Herr is leading an important initiative in Sierra Leone. Through a partnership between MIT’s K. Lisa Yang Center for Bionics and Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health, Herr is pioneering a mobile prosthetics delivery system, utilizing 3D printing technology to bring custom prosthetics to underserved communities in the country. This initiative aims to scale up production and increase access to much-needed prosthetic and orthotic care, particularly in rural areas​.

Professor Herr also discussed future research at the K. Lisa Yang Center for Bionics, particularly in optogenetics, which could provide new solutions for individuals with spinal cord injuries. By combining optical stimulation with advanced neural interfaces, the goal is to restore movement without the need for external exoskeletons.

Fireside Chat and Q&A Highlights

Following the lecture, Professor Herr participated in a Q&A session where he reflected on both personal and global challenges within the field of bionics. When asked what advice he would give his younger self, Herr revealed that his advice would be to “slow down and smell the flowers.” Reflecting on his personal experience of recovering from amputation, he shared that only a week after receiving his first pair of prosthetics, he returned to mountain climbing. While this rapid recovery showcased his resilience, Herr highlighted the importance of taking time to reflect on life’s moments.

In another question, Victoria Austin raised the issue of balancing cutting-edge technological advancements with improving global access to assistive technology. Herr expressed deep frustration at the inequities in access to healthcare and assistive devices, especially between wealthier nations and poorer regions. He outlined his vision for a scalable, high-tech solution that could bridge this gap: a digital pipeline for custom prosthetics, leveraging mobile clinics and 3D printing to deliver care in underserved regions globally.

Another audience member asked Herr to share any “heroic failures” from his career. In response, Herr emphasised that creativity is largely an emotional process, and that fear of failure can stifle innovation. He reflected on students at MIT who excel academically but struggle in the lab due to their fear of failure. Herr stressed that fearlessness is essential to creativity and breakthroughs, sharing inspiring examples from his lab.

Conclusion

The lecture and fireside chat provided an inspiring and in-depth look into the future of bionics. From personal stories of overcoming physical limitations to visionary ideas for global healthcare solutions, Professor Herr illustrated how the fusion of biology and technology can not only extend human potential but make life-changing advancements accessible to all.

To quote Professor Rui Loureiro following the lecture; ‘That was something else; thrilling, inspiring.  I still remember seeing Hugh in Zurich a long time ago. I was impressed then and more so now. It was mind-blowing’.
The lecture and fireside chat were followed by a reception on the 7th floor of Marshgate with views over the Olympic Park.

Fireside Chat

Pictured next to Professor Hugh Herr:
Centre: Professor  Rui Louriero  Head of the Department of Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Science, UCL and Research Director at NRC

Right: Dr Victoria Austin, Professor of Social Justice and Innovation and co-founder of Global Disability Innovation Hub GDI Hub