Akihito Uno

About

Akihito Uno is a leading researcher in rehabilitation robotics, with a primary focus on restoring mobility for individuals with paraplegia. His work centers on the development and clinical evaluation of advanced gait-assisting robots, most notably the WPAL (Wearable Power-Assist Locomotor). In a landmark 2015 study, Uno and his team directly compared the WPAL robot against traditional bilateral knee-ankle-foot orthoses (KAFOs) with a medial single hip joint, demonstrating the robot’s superior performance in gait reconstruction for paraplegic patients. This work, which has garnered 17 citations, represents a critical step in moving from passive braces to active, intelligent assistive devices. Beyond this comparison, Uno has also investigated the biomechanics of robot-assisted training, characterizing unexpected postural changes during therapy to improve safety and efficacy. His contributions extend to foundational reviews on the development of rehabilitation robots, helping to shape the field’s technological trajectory. With a career dedicated to bridging engineering and clinical rehabilitation, Uno’s research continues to push the boundaries of what is possible for patients with severe motor impairments, offering new hope for functional recovery through cutting-edge robotic systems.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Comparison between gait-assisting robot (WPAL) and bilateral knee-ankle-foot orthoses with a medial single hip joint in gait reconstruction for patients with paraplegia

   17 citations · 2015
2. 2
   Characterization of unexpected postural changes during robot-assisted gait training in paraplegic patients

   10 citations · 2015
3. 3
   Development of rehabilitation robots

   2 citations · 2013

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links