Leading Voices - Prof. Abderazek Ben Abdallah
On November 3, 2026, the Editorial Office of Intelligence & Robotics (IR, ISSN: 2770-3541) had the pleasure of interviewing Prof. Abderazek Ben Abdallah, a Professor in the School of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Aizu, Japan, where he also serves as Regent and Dean. The interview was conducted by Dr. Yanhong Peng, a Lecturer at the School of Mechanical Engineering, Chongqing University of Technology, China, and a Junior Editorial Board Member of IR.
As part of the Leading Voices interview series celebrating the fifth anniversary of IR, the conversation explored the foundations of brain-inspired intelligence, the role of neuromorphic computing in advancing intelligent robotics, and the challenges of developing reliable, scalable, and energy-efficient neuromorphic systems. The discussion also examined how advances in computing architectures can be translated into practical intelligent systems and considered future directions for brain-inspired computing and robotics.
Below are the details of the interview:
Questions:
Q1. The foundations of brain-inspired intelligence
Brain-inspired computing offers an alternative approach to developing intelligent systems. Drawing on your work in neuromorphic computing and spiking neural networks, what makes this approach distinctive? Which principles of biological intelligence do you think are most valuable to reproduce in artificial systems?
Q2. Neuromorphic computing for intelligent robotics
Robots must increasingly perceive, learn, and act in complex environments while meeting constraints on energy and computational resources. How could neuromorphic computing contribute to more adaptive and efficient robots? What challenges remain in bringing these systems into practical robotic applications?
Q3. Building reliable and efficient neuromorphic systems
Your research on 3D network-on-chip architectures and neuromorphic systems addresses challenges in reliability, thermal management, and system efficiency. What are the main barriers to building reliable and scalable neuromorphic systems? How should researchers balance energy efficiency, hardware reliability, and performance?
Q4. From computing architectures to real-world intelligence
Advances in computing hardware do not always translate directly into practical intelligent systems. From your experience, what are the main challenges in bridging this gap? How can collaboration among hardware designers, AI researchers, and robotics engineers help address them?
Q5. Future directions and advice for young researchers
Looking ahead five to ten years, which developments could have the greatest impact on neuromorphic computing and brain-inspired intelligence? What advice would you give young researchers seeking to connect fundamental computing research with real-world applications?
About Prof. Abderazek Ben Abdallah:
Prof. Abderazek Ben Abdallah is a Full Professor in the School of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Aizu, Japan, where he also serves as Regent and Dean. His research interests include computer architecture, neuromorphic computing, spiking neural networks, brain-inspired intelligence, three-dimensional integrated circuits and network-on-chip architectures, and intelligent autonomous systems. His work focuses on developing reliable, scalable, and energy-efficient computing systems, with applications in neuromorphic robotics and adaptive intelligent systems. He has published more than 160 peer-reviewed papers, authored four books, and holds 17 Japanese patents. He is a Senior Member of IEEE and ACM, a 2026–2027 IEEE Circuits and Systems Society Distinguished Lecturer, and has served on the editorial boards of several international journals, including IEEE Computer, IEEE Network, and Frontiers in Neuroscience.
About Dr. Yanhong Peng:
Dr. Yanhong Peng is a Lecturer, Master's Supervisor, and International Affairs Secretary at the School of Mechanical Engineering, Chongqing University of Technology, China. He received his bachelor's degrees from Beijing Jiaotong University and the University of Wollongong, Australia, and his master's and Ph.D. degrees from Nagoya University, Japan. His research focuses on robotics and related engineering fields. He has published more than 20 papers in international journals, including IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, Expert Systems with Applications, and Microsystems & Nanoengineering, with one ESI Hot Paper and two ESI Highly Cited Papers. He has received three Best Paper Awards, and his publications have attracted more than 1,700 citations. He serves on the editorial boards of several journals, including Intelligence & Robotics, SmartBot, and Biomimetic Intelligence and Robotics.
Editor: Shine Wei
Production Editor: Xingyue Luo
Respectfully Submitted by the Editorial Office of Intelligence & Robotics
