Dr. Robin Felder

Dr. Robin Felder of the University of Virginia School of Medicine, received the 2009 Engelberger Robotics Award for Leadership at the 40^th International Symposium on Robotics in Barcelona, Spain.  The award honors his accomplishments spanning more than two decades of research on automating clinical and pharmaceutical laboratories.  He founded the Association for Laboratory Automation and was the founding editor for its world-renowned Journal. A Professor of Pathology at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, he also was the former Director of its Medical Automation Research Center for 22 years.  He continues to research and promote new applications of robotics automation.  His not-for-profit Medical Automation.org website is a resource for learning about how automation technologies can assist the healthcare community.  He has authored countless articles and book chapters, delivered numerous conference talks, holds several patents and received many awards.  He was instrumental in applying robotics to laboratory automation, one of the most successful non-industrial markets for robotics.  Due to his pioneering efforts, thousands of lab robots are being used throughout the world today.

Also honored was Shigeo Hirose of the Tokyo Institute of Technology was presented the award in the category of Technology Development.  He is a leader in the field of creative design of robotic mechanisms such as snake-like, walking, wall climbing, crawler and swarm-type robots.  He also has done extensive research in robots for de-mining, rescue, medical and planetary rovers.

Jeffrey A. Burnstein, President of Robotics Industry Association (RIA) notes that this years recipients “have been true industry pioneers whose work has influenced countless others and greatly advanced the science and application of robotics.”

 RIA has presented the Engelberger Robotics Award annually since 1977.  A total of 109 recipients from 16 countries have now been honored.  The award is named after Joseph F. Engelberger, regarded throughout the world as the “father of robotics.”