Recognized Robotics Technology Leaders 2025

Hrishikesh Tawade is a senior robotics and computer-vision engineer at the Toyota Research Institute, where he works on adopting and scaling AI-driven robotics research across Toyota’s global manufacturing ecosystem. His work focuses on bringing advanced perception, safety, and multi-robot intelligence into production environments. Previously, he led multi-robot coordination and battery-swap automation at Ample Inc., cutting swap times from 15 to 5 minutes and improving fleet reliability across deployments in the U.S., Japan, and Europe. He also strengthened perception pipelines and product readiness at a LiDAR-focused company during its transition from private to public markets. Earlier in his career, he built cost-efficient factory automation systems in India, solving constraints around sensor reliability, hardware robustness, and deployment speed. He frequently mentors early-stage founders on robotic product strategy, prototyping, and scale-up.

A goal and results oriented technology executive who has a proven track record in building start up companies and new business divisions in medium to large corporations from ground up and making them successful. Considered by industry peers as a seasoned big picture thinker who can come up with most efficient business solutions to resolve complex business related challenges and technology problems. I am interested in Board Member positions in technology startup companies with bright ideas "or" non profit organizations with a great mission. Specialties: • Strong collaborative leadership skills. • Above average finance knowledge and background. • Building strong sales and technical teams. • Business opportunity identification/quantification/closing skills. • Marketing and tactical implementation of strategic initiatives. • Solid understanding of products manufacturing & sourcing (local or overseas) and software development life cycle. * Board of advisory.

Results-oriented technology leader with over 9 years of experience in Infrastructure Security, Automation, Generative AI, and Software-Defined Operations. Demonstrated ability to lead high-performing teams, streamline enterprise support, and execute strategic initiatives that enhance organizational resilience and operational efficiency. A seasoned cybersecurity professional, experienced in vulnerability and patch management at scale, with a strong track record of driving measurable, data-driven impact through intelligent automation. Skilled in designing and implementing secure, scalable, and compliant infrastructure solutions that align with business and regulatory goals. Proven expertise in project and program management, particularly within Agile and Scrum frameworks, with a focus on cross-functional collaboration, risk mitigation, and continuous improvement. Recognized for combining technical depth with strategic vision to deliver transformative outcomes in complex enterprise environments.

17 year old high school junior focused on AI safety, cybersecurity, and digital trust, with research centered on detecting geospatial deepfakes and other manipulated media. Presented research at MIT at the IEEE Undergraduate Research Technology Conference and showcased work at the Esri International User Conference. Founder of DeepTrust.us and builder of FakeCheck, a multimodal deepfake detector that helps organizations verify suspicious audio, video, and images quickly, then document decisions with clear Authentic or Manipulated verdicts and audit ready logs. Author of Tech Demystified: Cybersecurity: Core Principles of Modern Cyber Defense, written to make core security concepts practical and accessible for non specialists and students.

I am Brian Tham, an Applied Artificial Intelligence undergraduate at Singapore Institute of Technology with a strong academic record and practical experience in AI research and development. My work focuses on advancing AI applications, particularly in the areas of model protection, computer vision, and machine learning. You may view my portfolio/website at https://tham.ai As a Research Student at Singapore Institute of Technology, I've contributed to significant work on AI model protection, specifically focusing on defending deep neural networks against model extraction attacks. My research encompasses model watermarking, adversarial robustness, and advanced defense mechanisms, with practical applications in medical imaging through UNet model implementation for brain MRI segmentation. My technical portfolio includes notable projects such as FoodVision, a real-time deep learning food detection system utilizing YOLOv8 technology, and a Speech Emotion Recognition system based on Wav2Vec2. I've also conducted comprehensive analyses of emerging technologies, including a detailed study of ransomware impacts across various industries and an evaluation of AI chatbot capabilities. Previously, I enhanced medical education at Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, where my e-learning courseware development contributed to a 20% improvement in student test scores. My professional experience extends to the Ministry of Defence of Singapore, where I specialized in data processing automation and visualization using PowerBI and Excel. I hold multiple prestigious certifications, including Google Professional Machine Learning Engineer, Google Business Intelligence, and AI4I® – Proficiency in AI from AI Singapore. My technical expertise spans Python, machine learning frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch), and data analysis tools, complemented by a deep understanding of quantum computing, large language models, and autonomous vehicle technologies. This combination of academic excellence, practical research experience, and technical expertise positions me at the forefront of AI innovation and its real-world applications.

Mike Roberts is the founder and CEO of Creating Coding Careers (CCC), a trailblazer in the technology apprenticeship space. He has dedicated his career to helping underrepresented individuals enter the tech industry, and making apprenticeship models accessible and manageable for organizations of all sizes. With over four decades of experience as a software engineer and educator, he stands at the intersection of technology and workforce development. His work focuses on helping companies implement earn-and-learn programs that transform their approach to talent acquisition and development. He is an expert on securing apprenticeship funding and incentives, often seamlessly incorporating them into a company's existing training programs.

Chris Harbert is a veteran sales and business development leader with over 20 years of experience driving growth in robotics, automation, and manufacturing technology. Known as “The Automation Whisperer,” Chris has helped operations leaders across industries modernize their facilities through practical, right-sized automation that empowers people and enhances performance. His leadership spans pivotal roles at Rethink Robotics, Locus Robotics, GreyOrange, ForwardX Robotics, ANSCER Robotics, and Tompkins Solutions — where he’s consistently transformed emerging technologies into real-world operational results. A frequent advisor and industry voice, Chris is passionate about bridging the gap between innovation and implementation, and helping organizations build resilient, human-centered operations for the modern era.

Christopher Trocola is CEO of Compliant Technologies and a leading expert in AI governance and safety frameworks. From 2012-2020, he owned and operated solar sales and installation companies, where he developed one of the first AI agents for FinTech applications in the solar space, before "AI agents" was common terminology. This early AI development work, combined with his compliance expertise (2020-2024) protecting $500M in regulated contracts and influencing 10 laws nationwide through collaboration with legislators, House representatives, Senators, and government agencies including DOE and NREL, gives him unique insight into both AI technical implementation and regulatory frameworks. Christopher has been featured in multiple news outlets including Time Magazine and has received recognition as Marquis Who's Who Top Professional 2024, Honoree in 2023, and IAOTP 2024 Top Founder and CEO of the Year, 2025 Fluxx AI Compliance Innovator of the Year. His expertise spans AI agent development, regulatory compliance, and government relations. Now applying proven regulatory frameworks to AI governance challenges, Christopher developed the CT Framework, a three-pillar system (Know Your Stack, Protect AI, Compliance Lock) that helps organizations deploy AI safely at scale. His signature thesis "You cannot enforce a standard that was never defined" has resonated with thousands of AI practitioners and enterprise leaders. Christopher's LinkedIn thought leadership generates 25K-50K impressions per post, with engagement rates 3-7x industry averages. His analysis of AI governance failures (Replit, Rolling Stone, Grok) has sparked discussions among 500+ professionals about the urgent need for architectural controls over reactive compliance. He is founding the AI Safety Summit (March 2026, Phoenix) and serves as Chief Policy Advisor alongside former Arizona Deputy Director Wendy Jameson. Christopher works with insurance carriers on AI liability frameworks and is developing the Academy program to train certified AI compliance consultants. Specializations: AI agent development, AI governance frameworks, regulatory compliance (NIST AI RMF, EEOC guidelines, EU AI Act), architectural controls, FinTech AI applications, insurance partnerships, government relations, and enterprise risk management.

As a software engineer at Featured, I focus on utilizing LLMs and other techniques to ensure Featured runs as smoothly as possible. I use novel applications of LLMs and other generative AIs to automate routine business operations.

Arun is a manufacturing professional working in South Africa, focused on applying artificial intelligence to solve real operational problems in FMCG manufacturing. His work sits at the intersection of AI, production, maintenance, and sustainability, with hands-on experience in improving efficiency, reliability, and resource utilisation in high-speed manufacturing environments. He has exposure to operations across emerging markets, particularly Africa and India, and focuses on practical, data-driven solutions rather than theoretical AI models.

Now, Focused on developing the Algo trading platform which can automate all the…

Fred Xue is a product and research leader focused on AI-assisted policy intelligence, strategic scenario analysis, and cross-domain research synthesis. He works on designing research frameworks that translate complex public data, regulatory signals, and macro-level trends into structured insights for decision-makers. His work emphasizes analytical rigor, methodological transparency, and the practical application of AI in policy and strategic decision contexts.

Richard Robbins is the owner of TheTechnologyVault.com, a resource for all things technology, including software, cryptocurrency, programming, engineering, and other technical know-how. Richard is a former software developer who owns several ecommerce businesses. He is also a writer for several popular publications.

Payal Gupta is the Co-founder & Director of Tecknotrove Systems , India’s fastest growing simulation company with 1000+ projects in more than 26+ countries serving defence and civil customers Tecknotrove is committed to creating realistic Simulators and Virtual reality solutions for training and research that allows its users to improve productivity, improve safety and reduce costs. Payal has been accelerating new business and innovation and has been instrumental and has transformed the way driver training & testing is conducted in India. Her company has revolutionised the way training is conducted with use of technology like VR, simulation & gamified learning .

Tirumala Rao Chimpiri is a senior programmer analyst at Stony Brook University. He's an enterprise technology leader with more than 26 years of experience driving ERP modernization, digital transformation and business-process automation for Fortune 500 companies and global organizations across the banking, manufacturing, logistics and public-sector domains. He has led major ERP programs spanning finance and HR systems, delivering operational agility, improved security and measurable performance gains at scale. Tirumala also serves as chair of the IEEE Computer Society’s Long Island section and is a Senior Member of IEEE and a Fellow of the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (IETE). He contributes to enterprise-technology governance and digital-innovation strategy through leadership roles with national and international technology organizations influencing the future of intelligent enterprise platforms.

[PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY] Tech entrepreneur with 30+ years in media, design, and SEO. Former Autodesk Instructor and ATC Director, expert in animation, computing, and digital marketing. Active in OpenAI Beta programs, integrating AI into client solutions. Known for project execution, tech research, content creation, and reliable communication. [EXPERIENCE] SEO Specialist & Co-Founder RealWis.com — Green Bay, WI | 2007 – Present Build responsive websites for small businesses and nonprofits Provide domain registration, secure hosting, and SEO services Boost Google rankings, lead generation, and content visibility Produce and edit videos for events, YouTube, and marketing Manage client communications, schedules, and support Optimize business listings and deliver custom marketing Founder / Director Virtual Partners / Autodesk Training Center — Wisconsin | 1988 – 2007 Founded Wisconsin’s first AutoCAD® dealership; led for 30+ years Trained 1,600+ organizations in media and design tools Produced animations, training videos, and digital assets Consulted on CAD, animation, and VR/AI technologies U.S. Army Signal School Graduate | Army Security Agency Military Communications & Intelligence | 1967–1973 Handled advanced communications; duties later transferred to NSA/DCA [CURRENT INITIATIVES] OpenAI Beta participant, applying AI to SEO and operations Exploring AI, automation, and GPT workflows [SKILLS] Web Design & SEO (Local, Technical, eCommerce) Video Production & YouTube Client Management & Communication AI & Tech Research Google Analytics, SEMrush, Ahrefs, GSC BootStrap Authoring, Hosting, Domain Management Project Coordination [COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP] Elected Supervisor, District 15 Brown County Board – Wisconsin Lead in budget, oversight, and public service [CONTACT INFO] 📍 Website: realwis.com 📧 Email: murph@realwis.com 📞 Phone: (920) 785-1219

Brett Zienowicz is the founder of RoboRatings.com, a data-driven platform that helps consumers choose the right robot vacuum through in-depth research and transparent comparison tools. He analyzes performance metrics, usability trends, maintenance realities, and brand ecosystems across the home robotics market. Brett regularly provides expert insights on robot vacuums, smart home cleaning strategies, and consumer tech decision-making.

Tobias Rossi is Co-Founder of Atlas Strategy, a geopolitical advisory analyzing critical minerals, mining policy, and resource security globally. His work covers mineral supply chain risks across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific, with focus on strategic autonomy, processing dependencies, and mining governance. He previously supported G7/G20 policy coordination at the OECD and worked in the office of UNESCO's Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences. He holds an MSc in International Development from the London School of Economics and was the OECD's envoy to the Youth20, the 2019 G20 Youth Working Group. Fluent in English and French.

What I’m known for: - Challenging how complex products are sold - shifting brands from specs and catalogs to AI-driven, visual decision systems - Designing UX for banking industry - Conducting large-scale underwater photogrammetry projects (I'm a cave diver) What I work and speak on: - Advanced AI + 3D workflows for mass product personalization (parametric configurators, visual CPQ, automation) - AI-generated product visualization and consistency at scale - Visual search and image-based discovery as a replacement for keyword-driven UX - Decision psychology in high-consideration purchases and option overload - Underwater photogrammetry: cave and wreck scanning, capture methodology, and 3D reconstruction in extreme environments - Speaker at furniture/manufacturing events and multiple diving conferences across Europe and United States