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About

Kei Sawai is a robotics and wireless communications researcher whose work centers on disaster response robotics, wireless sensor networks, and autonomous mapping systems. Over more than a decade of sustained research, Sawai has made significant contributions to the development of teleoperated rescue robots capable of operating in post-disaster underground environments, where conventional communication infrastructure is often compromised or destroyed. His most influential work focuses on equipping mobile robots with the ability to autonomously deploy wireless sensor nodes, thereby constructing ad hoc communication networks in real time — a critical capability for coordinating rescue operations in inaccessible spaces. Sawai has also advanced the integration of SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) with low-power wide-area networks (LPWAN), enabling real-time 2D and 3D environmental mapping under severe bandwidth constraints, as reflected in his 2020–2023 publications. His earlier research into impact-resistant sensor node hardware and network throughput measurement further demonstrates a commitment to practical, field-deployable solutions. Beyond disaster robotics, Sawai has explored educational technology, including presentation robots for large classrooms and tangible programming tools for teaching computational concepts. With citations spanning foundational sensor network design to cutting-edge SLAM implementations, his body of work represents a meaningful bridge between robust communication engineering and real-world robotic applications.