The Austin project represents the latest in a series of exoskeletons Kazerooni and his team have developed over the past decade. Kazerooni’s work in this field began in earnest in 2000 with a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency-funded project to create a device that can help users carry heavier loads for longer periods of time. That project led to the Berkeley Lower Extremity Exoskeleton (BLEEX), a machine unveiled in 2004. At that time, Kazerooni also realized the potential use for exoskeletons in the medical field, particularly for physical rehabilitation and as an alternative to wheelchairs.