2026 Joseph F. Engelberger Robotics Award application winner Robert Little tells all

In this episode of Control Intelligence, editor in chief Mike Bacidore spoke to Robert Little, founder and executive advisor of Robert Little Robotics in Raleigh, North Carolina, and the 2026 application winner of the Joseph F. Engelberger Robotics Award. He will be recognized at the awards dinner during the Automate Show in Chicago the week of June 22.

With more than 40 years of experience in robotics, automation and manufacturing, Little serves as a Robotics Technology Strategy board member of the Association for Advancing Automation.  He co-founded ATI Industrial Automation in 1989 and helped grow the company from approximately $1 million to more than $100 million in revenue. Under his leadership, ATI became a global leader in robotic tool changers, force/torque sensing and other end-effector technologies that expanded the practical use of robots in manufacturing.

Following the acquisition of ATI by Novanta in 2021, Little served as president of Novanta’s ATI business group and later as chief of robotics strategy. He now supports the robotics industry through his advisory firm, Robert Little Robotics, where he advises companies on business strategy focused on robotics and automation markets.