Hideharu OKANO

About

Hideharu Okano is a robotics researcher whose work spans industrial inspection, human-robot interaction, and tactile sensing. His most influential contribution is the design of magnetic-wheeled robots for pipe inspection, enabling automated traversal of complex piping systems—including straight, vertical, and curved sections—in hazardous environments where human access is limited. This work, cited 23 times, addresses critical safety and efficiency challenges in industrial plants. Okano also developed a robot capable of playing "Rock, Paper, Scissors" (18 citations), integrating real-time hand gesture recognition with expressive emotional feedback through voice and body movements, showcasing his interest in intuitive human-robot interfaces. His innovations in flexible contact force sensors, which detect contact location and measure four-axis forces using silicon rubber, have advanced robotic grasping by addressing translational and rotational slippage. With over 70 total citations across his publications, Okano’s research demonstrates a consistent focus on practical, deployable robotic systems—from pipe-surface inspection mechanisms to omni-directional mobile robots for nursing tasks—making his work valuable for students and engineers seeking real-world applications in field robotics and sensor design.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Design of Magnetic Wheels in Pipe Inspection Robot

   23 citations · 2006
2. 2
   A robot designed to play the game "Rock, Paper, Scissors"

   18 citations · 2007
3. 3
   Development of Four-Axis Contact Force Sensor with a Flexible Contact Part

   10 citations · 2005
4. 4
   Magnetic Part Design of Pipe-Surface Inspection Robot

   8 citations · 2006
5. 5
   Calculation of Deformation of a Flexible Contact Sensor and Estimation of Mechanical Impedance of an Object

   3 citations · 2005
6. 6
   Grasping Force Control in consideration of Translational and Rotational Slippage by a Flexible Sensor

   3 citations · 2006
7. 7
   Development of a Mechanism of a Piping Inspection Robot

   3 citations · 2005
8. 8
   Development of a Mechanism of Pipe-Surface Inspection Robot

   2 citations · 2007
9. 9
   Grasping Force Control in Consideration of Translational and Rotational Slippage of an Object by a Flexible Contact Sensor

   2 citations · 2006
10. 10
    Development of an omni-directional mobile robot with two or more cameras and navigation based on cell map information

    2 citations · 2006

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links