On October 2, 2022, Professor Lu Zhen of Beihang University in China passed away at the age of 80. Professor Zhen Lu was born in 1942 in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China. Professor Lu received his Ph.D. from the Institute of Robotics of Beijing Hang University in 1987 and was named a professor in 1993. Prof. Zhen Lu was a very active in IFToMM as Member of the Permanent Commission for the History of Mechanism and Machine Science and the Technical Committee for Robotics and Mechatronics. He is one of the first Chinese professors to join IFToMM and has participated in and hosted several IFToMM international conferences, making important contributions to promoting IFToMM in international exchanges and cooperation. He was a great IFToMMist!

Professor Lu Zhen loved robotics research and has achieved fruitful results. In 1990, Professor Lu was senior visiting scholar at KANSAS Space Technology Center in United States for a research period on computer simulation of vehicle suspension system, aerospace remote-controlled robot, and robot multi-finger dexterous hand. His main research areas were tele-operated robots, robotic multi-finger dexterous hand dynamics, redundancy robots, and history of mechanical engineering making important contributions to Chinese Robotics scientific research. Professor Lu Zhen has undertaken more than 10 research projects such as the International Cooperation Fund of the Ministry of Science and Technology ofChina, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Aeronautical Science Foundation, and the Beijing Natural Science Foundation. He published more than 100 papers and 3 monographs. He has won the Beijing Science and Technology Progress Award, the title of Outstanding Returnee of the Ministry of Aviation (China Aviation Corporation) and several other honors and awards, receiving the special government allowance issued by the State Council.

In his nearly 30 years of activity, Professor Lu Zhen devoted special attention to teaching and formation guiding more than 40 master's, doctoral and postdoctoral students, who have become talents in various industries and positions in China and in international institutions.

Professor Lu Zhen lived happy with his harmonious family. He and his wife Ms. Bai Fumin have been married for more than 50 years, respecting each other, loving each other, and working together.
Even during retirement, Professor Lu Zhen was elegant and distinctive with an active and healthy lifestyle, still working to publish papers in many journals, actively participating in various teaching evaluations, and developing his interests and hobbies, such as oil paintings whose pieces were displayed on various occasions.

Professor Lu Zhen has a life dedicated to the cause of robot education and scientific research, during an ordinary and colorful happy life.

Prof Lu Zhen has been a prestigious figure, who has been admired worldwide also for his IFToMMist attitude to combine friendships and scientific activity in working with collaboration, sharing, and improving the technology for the benefit of the society in the welfare of human beings.

We all shall miss his gentleman presence but keep an everlasting memory of him.

Prof. He Guangping, North China University of Technology, China
Prof. Shuangji Yao, Yanshan University, China
Prof. Marco Ceccarelli, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy