Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Fujio Ohkawa is a robotics researcher whose work spans two compelling domains: space robotics and outdoor service robotics. His most significant contributions lie in the control and motion planning of space manipulators, where he developed innovative methods for real-time path planning that minimize energy consumption due to mechanical friction and motor resistance — a critical concern for resource-limited spacecraft systems. His work on cooperative manipulation by dual free-based space robots, including adaptive resolved motion rate control and generalized Jacobian matrix formulations, has advanced understanding of how multiple robotic systems can jointly handle floating objects in microgravity environments, collectively earning dozens of citations. Ohkawa also made notable contributions to discrete-time robot modeling and digital adaptive control strategies for manipulators operating under uncertain conditions or unknown external forces. Parallel to his space robotics research, he led the development of the OSR-01 and OSR-02 outdoor service robots — autonomous systems designed to collect urban litter such as plastic bottles and cans — contributing novel sensor and vision systems to enable real-world deployment. His interdisciplinary body of work, spanning theoretical control design to practical robotic applications, reflects a sustained commitment to advancing autonomous robotics in both terrestrial and extraterrestrial environments.