TC Awards
Call for the 2025 IFAC TC 4.2 Awards
The nomination for the triennial IFAC TC 4.2 Awards is now open. All nomination should be sent via e-mail to kemmetmueller@acin.tuwien.ac.at . The deadline for submission is 31st April, 2025.
EXTENDED DEADLINE: May 15th, 2025!
Mechatronic Systems Lifetime Achievement Award
This award is presented triennially by IFAC TC4.2 to a researcher who has exceptional history of participation in and contributions to IFAC mechatronic systems activities, and who has made enduring research contributions in mechatronics, either of a fundamental or applied nature.
Past Recipients
2025
Professor Reza Moheimani (University of Texas at Dallas) - In recognition of his pioneering contributions to the control of high-precision mechatronic systems and their industrial applications, particularly for his seminal research in high-throughput atomic-precision lithography, high-speed scanning probe microscopy, microelectromechanical systems, and smart structures.
2022
Professor Katsuhisa Furuta (Tokyo Denki University) - For his outstanding contributions to establish advanced theory for nonlinear control and system identification, and to develop its applications for various mechatronic systems. In particular, his contributions to the rotating multiple inverted pendulum, the Furuta Pendulum, and Super Mechano‐Systems and Human Adaptive Mechatronics (HAM).
2019
Professor Roger Goodall (Loughborough University) - For his pioneering research contributions in mechatronics and its application to industrial systems, particularly internationally leading research in Maglev and active control for future mechatronic railway vehicles.
2016
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr. h.c. Rolf Isermann (Darmstadt University of Technology) - For seminal and pioneering contributions on fundamental and applied research in the field of mechatronics.
2013
Masayoshi Tomizuka - For seminal and pioneering contributions in the field of mechatronics and the control of the mechanical systems.
Mechatronic Systems Outstanding Investigator Award
This award is presented triennially by IFAC TC4.2 to a researcher who has demonstrated sustained outstanding research contributions in mechatronic systems, either of a fundamental or applied nature, and who has a significant history of participation in and contributions to IFAC mechatronic systems activities.
Past Recipients
2025
Professor Kyoungchul Kong (KAIST) - For his pioneering and groundbreaking research contributions to the field of wearable robotics and rehabilitation engineering, particularly in the development of innovative powered exoskeletons and assistive devices that enhance mobility for individuals with physical disabilities by integrating engineering excellence with user-centered design and his leadership in translating laboratory innovations into practical solutions that has significantly impacted the lives of individuals with mobility impairments demonstrating both academic rigor and societal impact.
2022
Professor Andreas Kugi (TU Wien) - For outstanding contributions to model-based design and nonlinear control of mechatronic systems and their applications in industry.
2019
Professor Klaus Janschek (TU Dresden) - For outstanding contributions to model-based design and control of mechatronic systems and their applications in optomechatronics, robotics, and aerospace.
2016
Professor Tsu-Chin Tsao (University of California, Los Angeles) - For outstanding contributions in the design, modeling, control, and realization of mechatronic systems, and for investigation and engineering of precision motion and vibration control to achieve high performance in engineering systems.
2013
Reza Moheimani - For outstanding contributions to design, fabrication, modeling, and control of mechatronic systems for investigation and engineering of matter at the nanometer scale.
Mechatronic Systems Young Researcher Award
This award is presented triennially by IFAC TC4.2 to a researcher who is 40 years or younger (on the first of March of the year of the award), who has an established history of participation in and contributions to IFAC mechatronic systems activities, and who has demonstrated outstanding research contributions in mechatronics, either of a fundamental or applied nature.
Past Recipients
2025
Professor Spasoje Miric (University of Innsbruck) - For groundbreaking contributions to the field of
mechatronic systems, particularly in the development of novel actuator topologies with embedded control functionality, advanced power converter modeling, and wireless power integration.
2022
Professor Xu Chen (University of Washington) - For pioneering methods and analyses of digital control parameterizations for precision mechatronic systems, advanced manufacturing, and their education and industrial adoption systems.
Professor Juan Ren (Iowa State University) - For creation of a suite of data-driven iterative-based feedforward and feedback control techniques for scanning probe microscope imaging and nanomechanical measurement.
2019
Professor Tom Oomen (Eindhoven University of Technology) - For fundamental contributions to system identification for control and iterative learning control and its application to industrial mechatronic systems.
2016
Professor Kyoungchul Kong (KAIST) - For pioneering contributions to healthcare mechatronics for assistance and rehabilitation of humans with mobility difficulties by the development of sensors, actuators, controls, and their integration technologies.
2013
Abu Sebastian - For significant contributions to the field of micro-/nanoscale mechatronic systems spanning areas such as scanning-probe technology, nanopositioning, nanoscale sensing, data storage, and emerging memory technologies.
Georg Schitter - For substantial contribution to the mechatronic design and control of nano-positioning systems for nano-metrology and high-speed scanning probe microscopy.