Hideo Kitagawa
Papers
15
Total Citations
186
H-Index
8
About
Hideo Kitagawa is a robotics researcher whose work spans two interconnected domains: intelligent robotic massage systems and omnidirectional mobile robotics. His most significant contributions lie in developing sophisticated control architectures that enable robots to replicate the nuanced, adaptive movements of human therapists. Beginning as early as 2002, Kitagawa pioneered the application of neural networks to teach multi-fingered robot hands expert massage techniques by capturing and reproducing the precise fingertip forces of human practitioners. This foundational work evolved into increasingly refined hybrid impedance and force control systems, with his 2007 paper on intelligent massage control becoming his most-cited contribution at 37 citations, demonstrating how robots can dynamically respond to the changing stiffness of human skin and muscle tissue. Alongside his haptic robotics research, Kitagawa made notable contributions to mobile robot locomotion, developing a novel differential drive steering system that enables omnidirectional movement using standard tires — improving practicality for real-world environments. His work extended into wheelchair accessibility and indoor positioning systems for autonomous navigation. Collectively accumulating over 170 citations, Kitagawa's research bridges human-centered robotics with practical mobility engineering, offering meaningful implications for assistive technology, healthcare automation, and intelligent robot-human collaboration.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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