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About

Hiroyuki Torikai is a robotics and control systems researcher whose work spans autonomous firefighting systems and neuromorphic computing for robot locomotion. His most recognized contributions lie in the development of aerial firefighting robotics, where he pioneered the concept of swarm-based aerial extinguishers equipped with inert gas capsules — a novel approach leveraging gases such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen as safer, more targeted alternatives to traditional water-based suppression. His 2014 prototype demonstrated successful flame extinguishment through precise aerial control systems, earning 10 citations, while subsequent work explored cooperative multi-unit strategies to enhance extinguishment performance and reduce risk to human life. These contributions collectively represent a meaningful step toward autonomous, remotely operated firefighting technology. More recently, Torikai has expanded into bio-inspired computing, introducing a wireless central pattern generator (CPG) based on ergodic sequential logic dynamics, implemented efficiently on FPGAs for applications in multi-legged robot gait control and functional electronic stimulation for human motion assistance. This breadth — from aerial robotics to neuromorphic hardware — reflects a research trajectory driven by real-world safety challenges and the intersection of intelligent control systems with physical applications.