Jake Abbott, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Utah, was recognized at the 2010 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) International Conference on Robotics and Automation in Anchorage, Alaska.  Out of 857 papers in nine categories, Abbott and co-authors won the following honors:

“My colleagues and I are thrilled that our research has been able to receive so much attention and validation,” said Abbott, who also works as the lab director in the Telerobotics Laboratory at the University of Utah.

The Utah Telerobotics Lab is interested in robotic systems that manipulate remote environments.  The primary focus of its work is medical telerobotics, particularly, investigating wireless magnetically controlled microrobots to navigate inside the human body. Rather than acting as autonomous systems, its microrobots act more like end-effectors of novel teleoperation system unlike anything that has ever existed.

IEEE is the world’s largest professional association dedicated to advancing technological innovation and excellence for the benefit of humanity. IEEE and its members inspire a global community through IEEE’s highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, and professional and educational activities. The theme for this year’s conference was “50 Years of Robotics,” reflecting on the amazing achievements of the field and the broad impact of robotics and automation research, development, and education.