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About

Koji Hasebe is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of robotics, ethics, and clinical safety. His work focuses on establishing foundational guidelines for the safe and ethical development of human assistive robots—machines designed to support people with disabilities, the elderly, or those in rehabilitation. Hasebe’s major contribution lies in advocating for a structured, stepwise clinical trial process, akin to those used in medical research, to ensure that assistive robots are rigorously tested before deployment. His 2010 paper, “Towards a guideline for clinical trials in the development of human assistive robots,” and its 2011 follow-up, “Stepwise process of clinical trials in safety-conscious development,” have been cited for addressing the critical gap between rapid technological advances and the lack of clear ethical review criteria. By framing robot development within a safety-conscious, ethical framework, Hasebe has helped shape how developers approach human-robot interaction, emphasizing that innovation must be balanced with patient and user protection. His work remains a touchstone for researchers navigating the complex regulatory landscape of assistive robotics.