Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Nobuaki Nakasu has dedicated his career to advancing robotic manipulation and assembly automation, with a particular focus on constrained-object manipulation and multi-arm coordination. His foundational work on quasi-dynamic manipulation, first introduced in 1995 and expanded in his highly cited 2002 paper (12 citations), established critical frameworks for analyzing fingertip forces when robots manipulate objects in contact with fixed environments—enabling more reliable assembly operations. This research directly addresses the uncertainty inherent in industrial assembly by guiding parts along contacting surfaces into precise positions. More recently, Nakasu has tackled the NP-hard challenge of assembly task sequencing and allocation for multi-arm robot systems (2023), proposing near-optimal solutions that respect geometric constraints and collision avoidance. His 2021 work on evolvable motion planning using deep reinforcement learning demonstrates his forward-looking approach, creating robots that adapt to changing warehouse and factory environments amid labor shortages. While his citation counts reflect a focused, technical audience, Nakasu’s contributions are foundational for practical robotics—bridging theoretical force analysis with real-world automation challenges. His research trajectory from quasi-static finger control to adaptive, learning-based multi-arm coordination marks him as a persistent innovator in manufacturing robotics.