February 26, 2026
By Tracie Troha

Associate Professor Aaron Young of the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering has been named a senior member of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) in recognition of his contributions to assistive robotics and wearable technologies that enhance human mobility.

Young directs the Exoskeleton and Prosthetic Intelligent Controls Lab, where he develops robotic exoskeletons and intelligent control systems to improve walking function and physical capability. He holds three U.S. patents related to his work. His research spans clinical applications for people with mobility impairments as well as industrial uses aimed at increasing safety and reducing injury risk. Supported by federal funding, including major grants from the National Institutes of Health, his team is helping move exoskeleton technologies closer to widespread real-world use.

“This is a really amazing honor,” Young said. “It’s fantastic to be named among this group, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to join the ranks of the academy.”

Young said the rapidly growing field of wearable robotics holds significant promise for improving quality of life for people with impaired mobility.

“The field of wearable robotics is an up-and-coming technology area that has the potential to impact people far and wide,” he said. “It is an exciting area of rapid growth and there is clearly a huge need for enhancing human movement capability.”

He credits Georgia Tech’s innovation ecosystem with supporting the translation of research into impact. Through collaboration with the Institute’s licensing office and commercialization initiatives such as Quadrant-i, Young and his team work to protect and advance promising technologies toward real-world adoption.

“The amazing organizations Georgia Tech has put together is helping push forward innovative ideas from the lab to the real-world at a rate that has not been previously seen,” he said.

Young encourages early-career researchers to consider the long-term impact of their work and engage with the patent process early to help bring new technologies to market.

“If there is an idea, even if you might not pursue it for years, that has the potential to have high impact, think about submitting an invention disclosure to your local intellectual property office for a discussion,” he said. “I set aside time, once a year, to reflect on the advances the lab has made and think about whether there are opportunities for patents and will submit an invention disclosure on the top one or two ideas I’m most excited about. This has led to a robust culture of patenting some of the most promising things, which is critical for real-world adoption of the technology by companies needing that protection to comfortably take the technology to the next phase.”

Related story: Five Georgia Tech Faculty Named to NAI Senior Members Class of 2026