The Hungarian NASA researcher in the field of space robotics — Life work of Antal K. Bejczy

Abstract

Professor Antal K. Bejczy is a Hungarian-born physicist and lead researcher of the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He is a professor at the California Institute of Technology, at Washington University in St. Louis and doctor honoris causa at the Obuda University in Budapest; an internationally recognized expert in robotics and space research. His pioneering research in space robotics largely aided the success of the early Mars expeditions. Professor Bejczy was born near the village of Ercsi. He attended the Jesuit high school in Kalocsa, after which he applied for his first job in Budapest as a workman and a dispatch boy at the electrical rotating machine factory in Budapest. During this time, he studied as an electrical engineer at Budapest University of Technology and Economics, until he was forced to leave his country, due to the historical events surrounding November 4, 1956. From Hungary through Austria, he immigrated to Norway, where he started his physics studies at Oslo University. After receiving his diploma, he remained at the university for another three years, as an expert in nuclear reactors. In 1963, he received his doctorate in the field of applied physics. He met with Todor Karman, who encouraged him to extend his knowledge by traveling overseas. In 1966, he received the NATO/Fulbright scholarship and continued his studies at the California Institute of Technology (CALTECH), where the primary focus of his research was cybernetics. From 1969, until his retirement (32 years), he worked as a research fellow at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), the well known research center, which was originally founded by Todor Karman. From 1971, research at JPL was primarily focused on designing robots that would be able to explore the surface of Mars. The news of Antal Bejczy's results in the field of robot intelligence, reached the NASA Johnson Space Center. Soon, he was put in charge of designing the technology of a robot arm to be used on the space shuttle. Among many others, he designed the remote control system of the Pathfinder robot, the first Mars rover. His interests were extended to the use of robotics in musculoskeletal rehabilitation. His patents were tested by Christopher Reeve, the actor in the Superman films of the 70's and 80's. Antal Bejczy gave his name to the Center for Intelligent Robotics at Obuda University in 2012. The Center was founded by Imre Rudas and is part of the University Research and Innovation Center. Its mission is to conduct robotics research and development, aid innovation and manage its results and fulfill educational needs in the field of robotics.