Human Engineering Research Laboratories (HERL)
Pittsburgh VA and University of Pittsburgh rehabilitation research center founded 1994; develops robotic wheelchairs and assistive mobility devices.
The Human Engineering Research Laboratories (HERL) is a rehabilitation engineering research center jointly operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the University of Pittsburgh, founded in 1994 by Dr. Rory A. Cooper. HERL is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and its facilities include a machine shop used to build and test medical-grade devices for its research programs.
HERL's work spans powered and manual wheelchair design, rehabilitation robotics, assistive technology and human factors engineering, with the stated aim of improving mobility and function for people with disabilities, including military veterans. Its projects include the Robotic Assistive Mobility and Manipulation Platform (RAMMP), a robotic wheelchair intended to navigate curbs, uneven terrain and everyday obstacles; in 2025 the program received up to 41.5 million dollars in funding from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health. Other activities include the Center for Assistive Technology and student research programs for veterans.
HERL collaborates with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, and its research is supported by federal agencies including the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research.
Primary type & automation activities this supplier delivers:
RAMMP Robotic Wheelchair
ARPA-H-funded next-generation robotic wheelchair with autonomous navigation, curb-climbing capability, and integrated robotic arm for people with severe mobility disabilities.
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Contact Human Engineering Research Laboratories (HERL)
WEBSITE
https://www.herl.pitt.edu/PHONE
412-822-3700HEADQUARTERS
United States
Company Facts
Founded
1994
Primary Role
Research Institute
Company Size
-
Primary Region
North America
Annual Sales
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Funding Stage
-
Funding Total
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