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About

Kotaro Otaka is a robotics researcher specializing in bio-inspired locomotion, particularly for quadruped and snake-like robots operating in unstructured outdoor environments. His work bridges neural control architectures and mechanical design to achieve adaptive, autonomous movement. Otaka’s most cited paper (2018, 49 citations) introduces a quadruped robot that uses a central pattern generator (CPG) modulated by vestibular feedback to enable autonomous gait transitions—including galloping—and to navigate over unperceived obstacles, demonstrating how biological principles can enhance robotic agility. In a more recent study (2023, 13 citations), he shows how decoupled neural oscillators, combined with tailored mechanical designs, enable wheeled snake-like robots to perform effective undulatory field locomotion, advancing practical deployment in real-world terrains. His earlier work (2018, 2 citations) explores adaptive serpentine locomotion by leveraging longitudinal frictional anisotropy and sensory feedback, allowing snake robots to autonomously adjust their gait across varying surface frictions. Otaka’s contributions are notable for integrating neural control with mechanical innovation, pushing toward robots that move with the resilience and adaptability of living organisms. His research holds promise for search-and-rescue, environmental monitoring, and exploration in challenging landscapes.