Hiroaki Ikeda

About

Hiroaki Ikeda is a researcher specializing in optical sensing technologies, laser-based measurement systems, and fiber optic data transmission, with particular expertise in self-mixing laser diode (SM-LD) applications. His most significant contribution to the field is the development of compact, high-precision range finders utilizing self-mixing laser diodes, work that has garnered substantial attention since his pioneering 1992 paper earned 90 citations — a landmark achievement that established him as an early innovator in this domain. That foundational study demonstrated a range finder achieving remarkable accuracy of ±0.15% across a dynamic range of 0.2 to 1 meter using a single sensor head, offering decisive advantages over conventional ultrasonic systems through its focused, scannable light beam. Building on this foundation, Ikeda extended his research into vibrational displacement sensing and simultaneous range-velocity measurement for moving targets with rough surfaces. His work in the early 2000s also addressed practical engineering challenges in robotic systems, proposing novel plastic optical fiber transmission schemes that compensate for bending-induced signal errors — enabling reliable analog and bidirectional data communication in dynamic environments. Collectively, his research bridges precision optical metrology and real-world robotic instrumentation.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Compact and high-precision range finder with wide dynamic range and its application

   90 citations · 1992
2. 2
   Analog data transmission through plastic optical fiber in robot with compensation of errors caused by optical fiber bending loss

   10 citations · 2001
3. 3
   Data collection and transmission system for vibration test

   5 citations · 2002
4. 4
   Simultaneous transmission of vibration sensor position control data and measured vibration data in opposite directions through single plastic optical fiber

   5 citations · 2002
5. 5
   Compact and fast vibrational displacement sensor with real-time analog electrical output using self-mixing laser diode

   4 citations · 2002
6. 6
   High-precision range finder for slowly moving target with rough surface

   4 citations · 2002
7. 7
   High-resolution range finder with wide dynamic range of 0.2 m to 1 m using a frequency-modulated laser diode

   3 citations · 2003
8. 8
   Compact and high-precision range finder with wide dynamic range using one sensor head

   2 citations · 2002

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links