T. Hashimoto

The University of Osaka, Okayama University of Science

Papers

Total Citations

115

H-Index

About

T. Hashimoto is a pioneering researcher in robotics, with a primary focus on dynamic manipulation and pneumatic actuation systems. Their most significant contributions lie in the development of autonomous table tennis-playing robots, where they introduced the concept of "virtual targets" to coordinate paddle movement for efficient stroke generation. This work, detailed in their highly cited 2003 paper (54 citations), revolutionized how robots interact with fast-moving objects by predicting impact points and paddle velocities. Hashimoto further advanced the field by integrating Locally Weighted Regression (LWR) to enable precise ball control and rallying with humans, as demonstrated in their 2004 study (41 citations), which allowed robots to return balls to desired table positions with specified flight durations. Beyond manipulation, Hashimoto engineered the pneumatic nutation motor (20 citations), a direct-drive stepping motor achieving 720 steps per rotation without electrical components, making it ideal for hazardous environments. This dual expertise—bridging real-time robotic control and novel actuator design—has established Hashimoto as a key figure in both applied robotics and mechatronics, with their table tennis robot serving as a benchmark for human-robot interaction in dynamic sports.