IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - June 2011 - 6

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Disaster in Japan
By Kazuhiro Kosuge (kosuge@m.tohoku.ac.jp), Tohoku University

series of major earththat most of robotics laboratoquakes and the tsunami
ries are located in have been
devastated the seaside
confirmed safe. My room was
of East Japan, on the
one of the most seriously dameast side of Honshu Island, on
aged rooms in our department,
11 March. Unfortunately, many
although other parts of the labopeople lost their lives in the
ratory had little damage.
earthquakes and tsunami. I
In conclusion, I have good
pray for the souls of the dead.
news for our Society. Ms. Kathy
Many people are still fighting
Colabaugh, who was previously
with their difficulties. I really
working as a Senior Administrator
hope that the region recovers
of the IEEE Broadcast Technology
and reenergizes soon with
Society at IEEE Headquarters,
photo shows how my room was affected by the
today's technologies and that The
has joined our Society and has
quakes.
the robotics technologies help
started working for our society
the recovery. As a Japanese cititogether with Ms. Rosalyn Snyder
zen, I would also like to express my demic societies, the Science Council of from 21 February. This is a part of our
sincere thanks to the people around Japan, and related industries. It is led by investments for the future of our socithe world for their warm and encourag- our IEEE Robotics and Automation ety. Our society's activities and services
ing words, generous offers, and support. Society (RAS) colleagues, Prof. Hajime to members will be enhanced with this
The series of the earthquakes and Asama, as the chair, and Prof. Yoshihiko new team. In the Administrative Comtsunami have caused serious damages Nakamura, as an anchorman. Hajime mittee meeting scheduled just after the
to the nuclear power plants in the has been involved with many projects 2011 IEEE International Conference on
Fukushima area. For these disasters, related to nuclear power plant mainte- Robotics and Automation in Shanghai
a task force, Ro- nance and rescue robotics as well as an in May, vice presidents elect were
* botics Task Force unmanned construction project in the elected by the Administrative Comfor Antidisaster Mount Unzen volcano area. The RAS mittee and will be working with our
ROBOTAD is a
(ROBOTAD), has Japan Chapter, currently chaired by President Elect David Orin from
hyperacademic
been formed by Prof. Hisashi Osumi, is one of the liai- January 2012. The new officers for
researchers and son entities of the task force. Several 2012-2013 are as follows:
organization.
* engineers in Japan robotics researchers and engineers, in- l VP Elect for Conference Activities:
Nikos Papanikolopoulos
involved in ro- cluding Prof. Satoshi Tadokoro's resbotics and related fields to "exchange cue robotics team, are helping with a l VP Elect for Financial Activities:
Anthony Maciejewski
and discuss the issues of technology, ap- part of recovery operations.
plication, and management to utilize roOur university is located in Sendai, l VP Elect for Industrial Activities:
Raj Madhavan
botics toward recovery from the great which is the largest city in the northEast Japan earthquake and the Fukush- east part of Japan. The east part of the l VP Elect for Member Activities:
Stefano Stramigioli
ima nuclear power plant disaster" (http:// city has been devastated by the earthroboticstaskforce.wordpress.com/).
quakes and tsunami. Our university l VP Elect for Publications Activities:
Alessandro De Luca
ROBOTAD is a hyperacademic has also been affected by the earthorganization and closely liaises with aca- quakes. Investigations of all of the l VP Elect for Technical Activities:
Satoshi Tadokoro.
buildings were made after the quakes,
and some buildings have been conDigital Object Identifier 10.1109/MRA.2011.941625
demned. Fortunately, the buildings
Date of publication: 14 June 2011
6

IEEE ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION MAGAZINE

JUNE 2011

http://http:// http://roboticstaskforce.wordpress.com/

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - June 2011