NEWTON, MA--(Marketwire - February 23, 2011) - Engineers and executives planning to attend the Sensors Expo & Conference will have the opportunity to hear how technology will fundamentally change human capability in this century, from Dr. Hugh Herr, whose personal story teaches how to transform personal limitation into towering achievement. Dr. Herr will deliver the keynote presentation on Tuesday, June 7 at 9 am. The Sensors Expo & Conference will be held Monday, June 6 through Wednesday, June 8 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL.
Hugh Herr is currently director of the Biomechatronics research group at the MIT Media Lab where he focuses on developing wearable robotic systems that serve to augment human strength, endurance and agility. At age 17, Hugh was considered a rock climbing prodigy. In January 1982, while attempting to summit Mount Washington in New Hampshire, Hugh and a fellow climber were caught in a blizzard and stranded on the mountain for three nights in -20F degree temperatures. By the time they were rescued, the climbers had suffered severe frostbite. Both of Hugh's legs were amputated below the knees.
Hugh Herr is pioneering new research directions for a new class of biohybrid, "smart" prostheses; these devices are accelerating the merging of body and machine, improving the lives of amputees and other physically challenged individuals, and amplifying the endurance and strength of everyone. Herr has employed cross-bridge models of skeletal muscle to the design and optimization of a new class of human-powered mechanisms that amplify endurance for cyclic anaerobic activities. He has also built elastic shoes that increase aerobic endurance in walking and running. In the field of human rehabilitation, Herr's group has developed gait adaptive knee prostheses for transfemoral amputees and variable impedance ankle-foot orthoses for patients suffering from drop foot, a gait pathology caused by stroke, cerebral palsy, and multiple sclerosis.
Herr is the holder or co-holder of numerous patents, including the Computer-Controlled Artificial Knee (commercially available as the Rheo Knee), the Active Ankle-Foot Orthosis, and the world's first Powered Ankle-Foot Prosthesis. Herr received his BA in physics from Millersville University of Pennsylvania, an MS in mechanical engineering from MIT, and a PhD in biophysics from Harvard University. Prior to coming to the Media Lab, he was assistant professor at the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology and the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School. He is the recipient of the Heinz Award in Technology, the Economy and Employment.
"We are truly honored to have Hugh Herr as our keynote speaker at this year's Sensors Expo & Conference," said Beth Torrey, event director for Questex Media Group, producers of the Sensors Expo. "His story is remarkable and we are confident our attendees will be inspired by his determination and dedication to the industry and advancements in technology."
The 2011 Sensors Expo & Conference will bring together over 4,000 engineers, scientists and industry professionals from around the world to see the latest innovations in sensor technology, learn about the most important sensing trends, and network with industry leaders. This year's event will once again be co-located with the premier embedded event in America -- the Embedded Systems Conference (ESC) Chicago. Additional highlights of the 2011 event include a MEMS Pavilion featuring a MEMS Innovation Area, Energy Harvesting Pavilion, Technology Update Theater and the Best of Sensors Expo Awards presented by Sensors Magazine. Conference Sessions will focus on today's most important sensing trends and technologies, including new tracks on Mobile Sensing and Cutting Edge Technologies as well as MEMS, Energy Harvesting, Wireless Sensor Networking, Novel Approaches to Measurement & Detection, and more. The Pre-Conference Symposia will feature MEMS Commercialization, Power Management and Sensor Selection.
The Pre-Conference Symposia will be held Monday, June 6 from 9 am - 5 pm. The Expo Hall, featuring leading vendors showcasing new solutions and services will be open on Tuesday, June 7 from 10 am - 5 pm and on Wednesday, June 8 from 10 am - 3 pm. Conference sessions will run from 10 am - 4 pm both days with keynote presentations starting at 9:00 am. The event will take place at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont, IL.
PRODUCED AND MANAGED BY:
The Sensors Expo & Conference is produced and managed by Questex Media Group LLC, a global, diversified business-to-business integrated media and information provider, headquartered in Newton, MA. For information on attending call 866-817-5048 or 972-943-4745 or visit www.sensorsexpo.com.
Contact Information:
For further information, contact:
Amy Riemer
Media Relations
978-475-4441 (office)
978-502-4895 (cell)