Berkeley Lower Extremity Exoskeleton
Encyclopedia
The Berkeley Lower Extremity Exoskeleton (BLEEX) is a robot
ic device that attaches to the lower body
. Its purpose is to complement the pilot's strength
by adding extra force
to one's lower extremity bodily movements. The BLEEX was funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
(DARPA), and developed
by the Berkeley Robotics and Human Engineering Laboratory, a unit within the University of California, Berkeley
Department of Mechanical Engineering
. DARPA provided the initial $50 million of start-up funds in 2001.
Robot
A robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or...
ic device that attaches to the lower body
Body
With regard to living things, a body is the physical body of an individual. "Body" often is used in connection with appearance, health issues and death...
. Its purpose is to complement the pilot's strength
Physical strength
Physical strength is the ability of a person or animal to exert force on physical objects using muscles. Increasing physical strength is the goal of strength training.-Overview:...
by adding extra force
Force
In physics, a force is any influence that causes an object to undergo a change in speed, a change in direction, or a change in shape. In other words, a force is that which can cause an object with mass to change its velocity , i.e., to accelerate, or which can cause a flexible object to deform...
to one's lower extremity bodily movements. The BLEEX was funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is an agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the development of new technology for use by the military...
(DARPA), and developed
Research and development
The phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
by the Berkeley Robotics and Human Engineering Laboratory, a unit within the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
Department of Mechanical Engineering
UC Berkeley College of Engineering
The College of Engineering is one of 14 schools and colleges at the University of California, Berkeley. The College of Engineering is ranked second in the nation, after MIT, according to the 2010 U.S. News & World Report rankings; It houses one of the most highly regarded and prestigious...
. DARPA provided the initial $50 million of start-up funds in 2001.