Daisuke Sakamoto

About

Daisuke Sakamoto is a leading researcher in human-robot interaction and telepresence, whose work bridges the gap between robotic systems and natural human communication. His most influential contribution is the development of the Geminoid HI-1 android, a remote-controlled humanoid that demonstrated a stronger sense of operator presence than traditional video conferencing—a finding that has garnered over 220 citations. Sakamoto pioneered the concept of humanoid robots as “passive-social” and “broadcasting” communication media, showing that even robots with limited autonomy can effectively facilitate human-to-human interaction in public spaces like train stations. His research on semi-autonomous robots introduced operator-requesting mechanisms that allow robots to function reliably in real-world environments, while his “Sketch and Run” work addressed the critical challenge of making robot behavior understandable to non-expert users. Sakamoto’s creativity extends to tangible interfaces like PINOKY, a device that transforms plush toys into soft robots, and robotic cooking systems that operate in open environments. With multiple papers exceeding 100 citations and field trials demonstrating practical deployment, Sakamoto has established himself as a key figure in making robots not just functional, but socially integrated and intuitively controllable.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Android as a telecommunication medium with a human-like presence

   220 citations · 2007
2. 2
   Humanoid robots as a passive-social medium

   137 citations · 2007
3. 3
   A humanoid robot that pretends to listen to route guidance from a human

   108 citations · 2006
4. 4
   Sketch and run

   96 citations · 2009
5. 5
   A semi-autonomous communication robot

   89 citations · 2008
6. 6
   Cooking with robots

   72 citations · 2010
7. 7
   Humanoid Robots as a Broadcasting Communication Medium in Open Public Spaces

   49 citations · 2009
8. 8
   Field Trial of a Networked Robot at a Train Station

   49 citations · 2010
9. 9
   PINOKY

   43 citations · 2012
10. 10
    A teleoperating interface for ground vehicles using autonomous flying cameras

    43 citations · 2013

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links