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About

S. Matunaga is a pioneering robotics researcher whose work sits at the intersection of space robotics, autonomous systems, and orbital operations. Based at the Department of Mechano-Aerospace Engineering at Tokyo Institute of Technology, Matunaga has dedicated his career to solving some of the most technically demanding challenges in space — namely, how robots can safely maneuver, inspect, and service structures in the unforgiving environment of orbit. Matunaga's most recognized contribution is his foundational work on dual-manipulator-based satellite capture systems, developing ground experiment simulators featuring 7-DOF robotic arms to validate orbital debris and damaged satellite retrieval concepts — work that has attracted 22 citations and remains a key reference in the field. Equally notable is his sustained development of the Reconfigurable Brachiating Space Robot (RBR), a modular, multi-armed system designed to locomote across the International Space Station's Japanese Experimental Module like a mechanical primate traversing a structure. This innovative concept, supported by microgravity flight experiments and distributed control techniques, has been documented across multiple publications and demonstrates Matunaga's commitment to translating theoretical robotics into practical, mission-ready hardware. His broader contributions to vibration damping and input shaping further underscore a rigorous, systems-oriented research philosophy.