Women in Robotics you need to know about 2024

This year, as we Shine a Light on women in robotics, we pause to honor the pioneers who cleared the path we walk today. Decades before robotics programs were widespread and conference halls were diverse, a small cohort of women were already publishing, presenting, and laying the foundations of a field that would reshape industry, medicine, and daily life.

The first International Conference on Robotics and Automation took place in Atlanta Georgia, on March 13-15, 1984, and its proceedings are available online. Many of the 1984 authors are now fixtures in the field; Joseph Engelberger, Marc Raibert, Ron Fearing, and Ruzena Bajscy among them. Perhaps less well appreciated is the fact that of the 75 papers, at least 7 authors were women:

• Alicia Casals
• Carol Crawford
• Dianne E. Britton
• Eleanor G. Wells
• Linda Shapiro
• Susan Hackwood
• Ruzena Bajscy

Read more about these trailblazers in our full article.

The Women in Robotics ’50 women in robotics you need to know about’ list always features someone who is creative with robots, an artist, author or creator and this year not only do we have an award winning poet and author, but half a dozen other women who expand our knowledge of robots and robotics through the power of the word.

Find out more about these amazing authors.