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About

Azumi Maekawa is a visionary roboticist at the forefront of human augmentation and cybernetic systems. Her research centers on the JIZAI Body concept—a groundbreaking framework that empowers individuals to seamlessly control or delegate control of their natural and extended bodies across physical and cyberspace. Maekawa’s major contributions include the Naviarm system, a wearable haptic robotic platform for offline motor skill transfer, and dynamic assistance mechanisms that use robotic appendages—inspired by animal tails—to enhance human balance and prevent falls. She also pioneered Human-Machine Mutual Actuation (HMMA), coupling robotic capability with human ability for dynamic motor skills like throwing. Her work on computational design of personalized wearable robotic limbs democratizes access to this exciting field for non-roboticists. With over 100 citations across her most-cited papers, Maekawa’s impact is evident in her innovative integration of drones and bipedal robots for pseudo-locomotion. Her notable achievements include developing the Aerial-biped, a quadrotor-assisted robot that achieves agile walking beyond conventional limits. Maekawa’s research is reshaping how humans and machines collaborate, offering profound implications for rehabilitation, skill acquisition, and human enhancement.