2025
IEEE RICHARD HAROLD KAUFMANN AWARD
Sponsored by the IEEE Industry Applications Society
“For contributions to the theory and applications of bidirectional power converters in high-performance motor drive systems.”
Vladimir Blasko is internationally recognized for his contributions to the development of the first regenerative motor drive products capable of returning braking energy back to the grid. He was instrumental in leading product development teams for both elevator and industrial automation applications worldwide, resulting in major technological advances in both fields. A prime example is the broad worldwide application of high-performance regenerative elevator drives (OVF4xx family) manufactured by Otis Elevator Co. Blasko is also credited with making a number of seminal contributions to defining both the architecture and key technology features in Rockwell’s first generation of digitally controlled Powerflex industrial drives in the 1990s.
An IEEE Life Fellow, Blasko is a Senior Fellow, Lockheed Martin Sikorsky, Stratford, Connecticut, USA.