Emberson Award on 24 April at a ceremony in New York City. The board-level award recognizes his distinguished service in advancing the technical objectives of the organization, particularly within the field of robotics. As a former IEEE president and a prolific scholar who has authored over 2,000 research papers, Fukuda remains a central figure in the development of mechatronics, micro-nano robotics, and AI-driven automation.
Fukuda currently serves as a professor and the vice president of research at the Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology in Alexandria, Egypt. His recognition by the IEEE follows a decades-long career that has spanned academia and international research institutions. Throughout his tenure, he has been a consistent advocate for diversity and inclusion within the technical community, emphasizing that the organization should prioritize accessibility for researchers regardless of their geographic origin or gender.
Early Research and the Evolution of Robotics
Fukuda’s interest in engineering began during his youth in Japan, where he spent summers building transistor radios and steam engines. This hands-on experimentation eventually led him to Waseda University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in engineering in 1971. During his studies, he was mentored by Ichiro Kato, a professor often cited as a foundational figure in Japanese robotics research. Fukuda later pursued advanced studies at the University of Tokyo, earning a master’s degree and a doctorate in science by 1977. His academic journey also included a research stint at Yale University in 1973, where he explored advanced control theory.
Following his doctoral work, Fukuda held positions at the Mechanical Engineering Laboratory in Tsukuba, Japan, and the University of Stuttgart in Germany. In the early 1980s, he transitioned to the Tokyo University of Science, where he focused on practical industrial applications. He developed inspection robots designed to operate in high-risk environments, such as oil refineries and power stations, which were often hostile to human workers. This work proved highly effective in attracting research funding from major utility and chemical companies, allowing him to sustain his laboratory’s operations as a self-funded enterprise.
Pioneering Cellular and Brachiation Systems
Among his most significant technical contributions is the development of modular, cellular robotic systems, known as CEBOTs, which he introduced in 1985. These systems function through autonomous robotic cells that can connect and detach, similar to interlocking building blocks. When assigned a specific task, the cells analyze the requirements and organize themselves into the necessary configuration. This decentralized design allows the system to be fault-tolerant; if one unit fails, it can be replaced without disabling the entire structure. Today, the technology behind CEBOTs is applied in medical settings for medication delivery and in logistics for automated product transport.
In 1988, Fukuda also contributed to the creation of brachiation robots, often referred to as “monkey robots.” Inspired by the pendulum-like movement of primates swinging between branches, these robots utilize gravity to achieve continuous, energy-efficient locomotion. These systems have since been adapted for maintenance tasks in difficult-to-reach locations, including high-voltage transmission towers, bridges, and pipelines. His research during his 24-year tenure at Nagoya University further expanded into micro-nano mechatronics, where he conducted extensive work on medical and intelligent robotic systems.
Contributions to IEEE and Global Leadership
Fukuda’s involvement with the IEEE began in 1980 at the suggestion of his advisor, Professor Fumio Harashima. Over the following four decades, he moved from a conference participant to a central organizational leader. In 1988, he served as the founding chair of the IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS). The event, which began with 330 attendees in Tokyo, has grown into one of the most significant annual gatherings in the field, now attracting over 9,000 participants.
His leadership roles within the IEEE include:
- President of the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (1998–1999)
- Founding president of the IEEE Nanotechnology Council (2002)
- Director of IEEE Division X (2001–2002, 2017–2018)
- Director of IEEE Region 10 (2013–2014)
- President of the IEEE (2020)
During his term as IEEE president in 2020, Fukuda led the organization through the initial challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Recognizing the limitations on international travel, he championed the expansion of the IEEE Learning Network. The platform, which initially offered only three courses, has since grown to provide nearly 2,000 educational resources, including webinars and professional development materials. His commitment to the organization also extended to policy reform, where he oversaw the development of new diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs designed to foster a more equitable environment for members worldwide.
Recognitions and Future Directions
The Richard M. Emberson Award is the latest in a series of honors bestowed upon Fukuda. His previous accolades include the 2004 Pioneer Award and the 2009 Saridis Leadership Award from the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society. In his home country of Japan, he was awarded the Medal of Honor with a purple ribbon in 2015 and the Order of the Sacred Treasure in 2022. Additionally, he served as a program director for Japan’s Moonshot program, a national initiative focused on the long-term development of advanced AI and robotics by 2050.
Reflecting on his transition from a frequent master of ceremonies at IEEE events to an award recipient, Fukuda remarked on the unique perspective of being on the receiving end of such honors. Having spent his career building robots to solve complex industrial and scientific problems, he continues to emphasize that the core of his work remains grounded in the energy and passion of the global research community. While he has retired from his long-term post at Nagoya University, he remains active in academia through his current role at the Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology, where he continues to oversee research in micro-nano systems engineering.