Katsuhiko Nakamura

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Katsuhiko Nakamura is a pioneering figure in soft robotics and tactile sensing, best known for his foundational work on telemetric artificial skin. His most-cited paper, "Telemetric Artificial Skin for Soft Robot" (1999, 17 citations), addresses a critical challenge in human-robot coexistence: creating a soft, whole-body sensor skin without cumbersome wiring. Nakamura proposed a wireless telemetric approach to simplify the fabrication of large-area tactile arrays, enabling robots to safely interact with humans. This early vision anticipated the modern push toward soft, sensor-rich robots for healthcare and service applications. Though his citation count is modest, his conceptual contribution—eliminating physical wiring in favor of wireless data transmission—was ahead of its time and has influenced subsequent work in e-skin and soft robotics. Nakamura’s research underscores the importance of rethinking hardware design to achieve truly harmonious human-robot interaction, making him a notable early advocate for soft, sensorized robotic systems.