Yuri L. Sargsyan

* 09.02.1941

On September 25, 2024, the scientific and engineering community of Armenia, and international circles, suffered a profound loss with the passing of Prof. Yuri Sargsyan. A luminary in the field of machine and mechanism science, Prof. Sargsyan’s contributions have been seminal in advancing the discipline.

His death leaves a substantial void and places upon us the responsibility to perpetuate and disseminate his extensive and multifaceted scientific and organizational heritage. Prof. Sargsyan's work bridged theoretical and practical gaps, fostering advancements that continue to influence contemporary research and application in machine theory and beyond.

Born on February 9, 1941, in Yerevan, Armenia, Prof. Sargsyan began his distinguished career in the early 1960s after graduating from the Yerevan Polytechnic Institute. He pursued his Ph.D. under the guidance of Prof. Levitski at the Moscow Institute of Chemical Technology. His initial work focused on synthesizing mechanisms for quarry saws based on parallel-coupled four-bar Chebyshev mechanisms, solving complex problems with innovative solutions, ending by defining theorems for the case of single DOF spatial mechanisms and formulating the geometric principles of developing translational-guiding mechanisms. His work led to the formulation of a strict theory of structural synthesis of translational-spatial manipulators of parallel structure.

Prof. Sargsyan's contributions to the Theory of Mechanisms and Machines (TMM) were transformative. His pioneering research on the synthesis of mechanisms and the application of Lagrange multipliers laid the groundwork for the geometric principles of synthesis, significantly advancing the field. He considered specific properties of Lagrange multipliers, defining the mechanism compatibility, and well-founded the possibility of their nullification when the approximation of kinematic error was significantly small. By the terms of Lagrange multipliers, the objective of searching for points of square circular planar parallel movement of a solid body was presented. This well-cited study was a cornerstone of his early scientific work. His research further developed the Chebyshev’s approximation by sphere and plane, considering points and lines with minimal distortion from the target function allowing to reproduce a given motion with no restriction on the number of positions of the rigid body specified.

In 1971, the collaboration of Prof. Sargsyan with renowned scientists Prof. B. Roth and Prof. K. Gupta led to a unified model merging the Chebishev’s square approximation methods of algebraic synthesis with the geometric principles of Burmester-Shonflies theory. His work became a milestone in the field, being recognized by the Best Paper Award from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and Award of Merit from Procter & Gamble for perspectivity of theoretical results. This innovative approach to classical TMM tasks greatly defined the scientific trajectory of Prof. Sargsyan's career.

As a result, a new branch of approximate kinematical geometry was founded, documented in his book "Approximation Synthesis of Mechanisms". The book gained wide international recognition, later was published in Russian, and became a handbook for generations of TMM scientists, though it had limited access for readers outside the Russian-speaking world.

In the 70s Prof. Sargsyan experienced a significant career breakthrough. At 34 he gained his Doctor of Sciences degree from the Moscow Institute of Machine Science and became the head of the TMM department at the Yerevan Polytechnic Institute.  Academician I. Artobolevsky and other peers highly recognized Prof. Sargsyan's research and his input. His tenure produced 16 Ph.D. graduates within a decade, solidifying his influence on future generations of scientists. Prof. Sargsyan supervised a series of high-standard Ph.D. and Doctoral theses in Armenia, Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan.

Prof. Sargsyan's impact extended beyond academia. As the first President of the State Engineering University of Armenia (SEUA), he implemented significant educational reforms, transitioning from a Soviet-era system to a market-oriented approach. His efforts in the aftermath of the 1988 Spitak Earthquake were instrumental in establishing the American University of Armenia - proving his dedication to education.

Since 1975 Prof. Sargsyan has been deeply involved with IFToMM activities, playing a pivotal role in supporting its mission for over 45 years. His service on the Executive Council, establishment of the Armenian IFToMM branch in 1998, and long-term participation in the Permanent Commission on Standardization and Terminology are just a few examples of his contribution to the global engineering community. Prof. Sargsyan received the Special IFToMM prize for significant contribution to TMM in 1995 and the Dedicated Service Award from IFToMM in 2023.

Well-known far beyond the scientific circles of Armenia and former USSR republics, Prof. Sargsyan was an honorable speaker at international congresses and conferences. In particular, it's worth mentioning his plenary speech at the IFToMM Congress in Prague in 1991, devoted to the analysis of specific geometric solutions of approximation objectives of spatial mechanisms’ kinematic synthesis. Lecturing at universities in England and the USA (Illinois, California) he left a lasting impact, making him a bright scientific star, especially in post-Soviet countries.

In addition to his scientific and academic accomplishments, Prof. Sargsyan demonstrated remarkable leadership in social and administrative spheres. He was deeply involved in educational issues leading the SEUA since 1988, a position he held for 18 years until 2006.  His election to the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia and subsequent role as Vice President is a further proof of his wide-reaching impact.

After the devastating Spitak Earthquake in 1988, Prof. Sargsyan guided, and channeled international relief efforts to establish the American University of Armenia in 1991, becoming one of its founding fathers. His organizational talents vividly emerged during the 90s when he initiated and accomplished full-scale educational reforms, adapting the engineering educational system to market-oriented needs.

Prof. Sargsyan further contributed to the progress of TMM at SEUA for the next three decades (1990-2020 and beyond), setting up and leading scientific laboratories for robotics research, rehabilitation mechanics, dynamics of mechanisms, and dental appliances.

His influence reached far beyond scientific community. Being a member of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia (since 1986), serving as Vice President on the one hand(1996-2001), on the other hand, he served as a parliamentarian of the first Parliament of Armenia (1990-1994), contributing to the lawmaking. His work in drafting the constitution of independent Armenia was a testament to his commitment to his nation.

Prof. Sargsyan authored over 175 scientific papers, including 35 patents. His 1982 monograph, "Approximation Synthesis of Mechanisms", remains a crucial text in mechanism design.

He was honored with numerous national awards, including the Order of Saint Mesrop Mashtots and Medal of Ananina Shirakatsi, reflecting the immense respect and admiration he garnered throughout his career.

As a charismatic and deeply knowledgeable individual, Prof. Sargsyan inspired colleagues, students, and friends. The memory of him will live, and his unbeatable scientific contribution has become a solid ground for further scientific progress.  Paying tribute to the merits of Prof. Sargsyan and being followers of his scientific legacy, we must preserve and continue his work for the benefit of society and science.

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