Shinichi Masaoka
Papers
2
Total Citations
7
H-Index
2
About
Shinichi Masaoka is a robotics researcher specializing in wearable assistive technologies, with a particular focus on human-robot interaction safety and force control systems. His work addresses a critical gap in the field of assistive robotics: the direct measurement of contact forces between wearable robotic devices and the human body. Rather than relying on conventional joint torque estimation methods, Masaoka has pioneered approaches that enable real-time, accurate force measurement at the human-robot interface, significantly advancing wearer safety standards. His most notable contribution, the arm-mounted assistive robot capable of direct contact force measurement (2023), challenges the prevailing paradigm in which body forces are merely estimated through torque sensors — a method that can introduce dangerous inaccuracies. Building on this, his 2022 work extended these principles to full-body wearable assistive systems, demonstrating the practical viability of contact force-based control across more complex robotic platforms. Though early in establishing his citation record, with his papers accumulating a combined 7 citations, Masaoka's research addresses a fundamentally important challenge in rehabilitation and assistive robotics. His contributions hold meaningful implications for the design of safer, more responsive exoskeletons and body-worn robotic systems for elderly care and physical rehabilitation.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 2