K. Miyazawa

The University of Tokyo, Sony Computer Science Laboratories

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

K. Miyazawa is a pioneering roboticist whose research centers on motion planning for humanoid and dexterous manipulation systems. His most influential work tackles the complex problem of graspless manipulation—moving objects without a secure grasp—where he introduced a planning method based on rapidly-exploring random trees (RRTs). This 2006 paper, cited 20 times, offered a computationally efficient solution to a notoriously difficult mechanics problem, enabling robots to slide, push, or pivot objects using only fingertips. Miyazawa’s contributions extend beyond algorithms to real-world robot development. In his 2023 paper, he shares the inside story of two landmark humanoid projects: Sony’s QRIO and the open-source PINO platform. Drawing on decades of experience, he distills lessons from taking humanoid robots from R&D to commercial markets, covering design philosophy, business challenges, and technical breakthroughs. This reflective work, already garnering 8 citations, bridges academic research and industry practice. Miyazawa’s career demonstrates how foundational motion planning theory can directly inform the creation of commercially viable, socially interactive robots, making him a key figure in the evolution of small humanoid robotics.