Roberta Nelson Shea, Global Technical Compliance Officer at UR, has been announced as one of the winners of the 2023 Joseph F. Engelberger Robotics Award, given out by The Association for Advancing Automation (A3). It is often described as the Nobel Prize of Robotics, and she won in the Application category.
The Engelberger Robotics Awards is an annual award program that recognizes outstanding individuals and organizations in the field of robotics. The awards are named after Joseph F. Engelberger, often referred to as the "father of robotics," who was a pioneer in industrial robotics and a visionary in the field.
Established in 1977 by the Robotics Industries Association (RIA), the Engelberger Robotics Awards are widely recognized as the most prestigious awards in the field of robotics. The program honors individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the advancement of robotics technology and its application.
The Application category recognizes individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to the development of robotics technology and its practical application. Roberta, a pillar and 40-year veteran of the robotics industry, was unanimously chosen by the committee of the award, for her outstanding work related to robotics safety across the world.
On winning the prestigious prize, Roberta reflected: “The Engelberger Robotics Award for Application in Safety is a tremendous honor to me and to all those who have embraced and contributed to robotic safety,” said Nelson Shea. “I remember meeting Joe Engelberger over 40 years ago and never imagined receiving this award. I view the award to be honoring the industry’s progress in optimizing safety and productivity. The journey has been amazing!”
The honor bestowed upon her is also one which is acknowledged by UR President Kim Povlsen: “This award is a testament to the great contribution Roberta has made to the robotics industry. Her dedication to safety has helped create the standards for the interaction between people and robots. This has been an important contribution to the collaborative relationship we see today between humans and robots across hundreds of thousands of workplaces.
Roberta will be presented with her award on May 24, at Automate in Detroit, alongside the winners of the three other awards: Leadership, Technology and Education.