Association for Advancing Automation has announced that Hiroshi Fujiwara and Robert Little will receive the 2026 Joseph F. Engelberger Robotics Awards, widely regarded as the highest honor in the robotics industry.
The awards recognize outstanding contributions across leadership and application in robotics. Fujiwara has been named the 2026 Leadership Award recipient, while Little will receive the Application Award for his work advancing practical robotics deployment in manufacturing environments.
The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on June 24, 2026, at McCormick Place in Chicago, during Automate 2026, one of North America’s largest gatherings focused on robotics and industrial automation.
According to A3, the selection reflects decades of contributions that have shaped both the strategic direction and real-world implementation of robotics technologies. “Robotics has always advanced because of people who could see what was possible and then do the hard work to make it practical, useful and scalable,” said Jeff Burnstein, President of A3, in a statement accompanying the announcement.
Fujiwara currently serves as Executive Director of the Japan Robot Association, a role he has held since 2009. In this capacity, he has overseen policy advocacy and industry coordination efforts aimed at strengthening Japan’s position as a global leader in robotics. His work has focused on fostering collaboration among industry stakeholders, government institutions, and international partners to advance both industrial and service robotics innovation.
Prior to his tenure at JARA, Fujiwara spent nearly three decades in Japan’s public sector, including leadership roles within the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. His experience spans industrial policy, economic security, technology development, and international trade. He has also contributed to initiatives through organizations such as the Japan External Trade Organization and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, supporting collaboration between academia, industry, and government.
Robert Little’s recognition highlights his role in advancing the practical application of robotics within manufacturing. As co-founder of ATI Industrial Automation in 1989, Little helped build the company into a global provider of robotic end-effectors, tool changers, and force/torque sensing systems. These technologies have played a critical role in enabling flexible and efficient automation across a wide range of industrial processes.
Under his leadership, ATI grew from a small enterprise into a business generating more than $100 million in revenue. Following its acquisition by Novanta Inc. in 2021, Little continued to contribute as President of the ATI business group and later as Chief of Robotics Strategy.
Currently, Little operates through his advisory firm, Robert Little Robotics, where he provides strategic guidance to companies navigating the evolving robotics and automation landscape. He also serves on the A3 Robotics Technology Strategy Board, contributing to industry-wide initiatives.
