Yuya Masuda
Papers
2
Total Citations
16
H-Index
2
About
Yuya Masuda is a robotics researcher focused on minimalistic actuation and bio-inspired locomotion, with a particular emphasis on underactuated mobile robots. His work explores how complex, agile movement can be achieved using a single actuator, challenging conventional multi-motor designs. Masuda’s major contributions include the development of a one-actuator mobile robot incorporating a torque limiter, a mechanism that enables controlled, energy-efficient motion with drastically reduced mechanical complexity. His most cited paper (2019, 14 citations) details this breakthrough, demonstrating how a single actuator can generate versatile locomotion through clever mechanical design. In earlier work (2018, 2 citations), he introduced a snakeboard-inspired robot—a wheeled platform that mimics the two-wheeled skateboard’s motion—requiring only one actuator to produce curving trajectories, a feat typically demanding multiple control inputs. This research has implications for low-cost, durable robots suited for exploration or educational platforms. Masuda’s work stands out for its elegant simplification of robotic systems, proving that less can indeed be more in mobile robotics.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1
- 2