The Association for Advancing Automation (A3) has awarded Stuart “Stu” C. Shepherd and Dr. Peter Corke as the winners of the 2025 Joseph F. Engelberger Robotics Awards. The awards will be presented on May 14 during Automate in Detroit. The Engelberger Awards celebrate individuals who have shaped the future of robotics through leadership, application and education. Learn more about Corke in this Control Design Q&A.
Shepherd, co-founder and president of Shepherd Solutions, was selected as the winner for his distinguished industry leadership. He will be recognized for his more than 46 years transforming manufacturing in the Americas through robotic automation and capital equipment-related new business development. Learn more about Shepherd in this Control Design Q&A.
Corke, distinguished professor emeritus at Queensland University of Technology, was selected as this year’s award winner in the education category for his impact in robotics education and research, including the creation of the widely used open-source “Robotics Toolbox” software, authoring the bestselling textbook “Robotics, Vision, and Control” and developing the Robot Academy online video resource.
The Joseph F. Engelberger Robotics Awards are named after the late Joseph F. Engelberger, known throughout the world as the founding force behind industrial robotics. Since 1977, these awards have been given to 141 robotics leaders from around the world for excellence in technology development, application, education and leadership.
The winners are selected by a panel of industry leaders based on all present and past nominations from the industry and are voted on by the past chairs of the RIA. A3 administers the award, and each winner receives a $5,000 honorarium, a commemorative medallion and a plaque.
“This year’s Joseph F. Engelberger Robotics Awards honorees have dedicated their lives to our industry, and so many of us have benefitted from their contributions,” says Jeff Burnstein, president of A3. “Stu’s leadership and foresight over the past 46 years have been instrumental in transforming manufacturing. Peter’s educational resources and research have shaped the work of robotics engineers for many years and led to immeasurable industry advancements.”
Stuart “Stu” C. Shepherd
Shepherd is the co-founder and president of Shepherd Solutions, an industry consulting firm. His past experience includes automation integration roles at General Motors, and sales and top leadership roles at Fanuc America Corp., Kuka AG, Güdel AG, Universal Robots A/S, and consulting roles at Gain & Co. and HowToRobot.com.
He is a past chairperson at both the RIA and A3, a current A3 Robotics board member, and an R15.05 safety committee member. He is also a member of the American Welding Society, serving on the D16 Robotic and Automatic Welding Committee.
“I am truly humbled and grateful to receive this award,” Shepherd says. “My career in robotics and automation has been both intellectually challenging and rewarding. I’m honored to have been a part of this industry for many years and look forward to watching and contributing to its ongoing success and evolution.”
