Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Hiroaki Saito’s research bridges two seemingly disparate frontiers: planetary exploration and surgical robotics. His pioneering work on micro-hopping robots for asteroid exploration, beginning with a highly influential 2003 paper (91 citations), introduced a novel locomotion mechanism designed for low-gravity environments. By analyzing hopping dynamics through microgravity experiments, he laid the groundwork for robotic vehicles capable of traversing irregular, low-gravity terrains—a critical capability for future asteroid missions. More recently, Saito has applied his robotics expertise to medicine, leading a 2023 study that compared robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE) with video-assisted thoracic surgery for esophageal cancer. Using propensity score matching, his team demonstrated that RAMIE offers superior short-term clinical outcomes, including reduced blood loss and shorter hospital stays. This work has immediate translational impact, helping to refine surgical standards. With a career spanning space robotics and surgical innovation, Saito exemplifies how core engineering principles—mobility, stability, and precision—can be adapted to solve challenges both on distant asteroids and in the operating room.