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About

Katsumi Minakata is a researcher specializing in assistive technology, human-robot interaction, and accessible virtual reality, with a particular focus on empowering individuals with severe motor disabilities through innovative interface design. His most significant contributions center on developing eye-gaze and head-mounted display (HMD) control systems for telepresence robots, enabling wheelchair users and others with limited mobility to navigate and socially engage with remote environments independently. His 2018 paper on head and gaze control of telepresence robots using HMDs, which has accumulated 28 citations, established a compelling framework for integrating 360° video and gaze-tracking technology into robotic telepresence. Subsequent work exploring comparative hand- and gaze-based control strategies further refined these approaches, collectively garnering over 40 citations. Minakata has also broadened his scope to accessible virtual reality, presenting a low-cost, wheelchair-based locomotion device that democratizes VR experiences for users who cannot rely on conventional inputs. His continued experimental investigations into gaze-controlled telepresence, most recently published in 2025, demonstrate a sustained commitment to improving real-world usability. Across his career, Minakata's research meaningfully bridges assistive technology and social robotics, advocating consistently for inclusive design.