About

Makoto Shimojo is a prominent robotics researcher whose work spans tactile sensing, dexterous robotic manipulation, mobile robot design, and proximity sensing systems. He is perhaps best known for his pioneering contributions to slip detection and grasping force control in multi-fingered robot hands, developing highly sensitive sensors utilizing pressure-conductive rubber that enable human-like gripping without prior knowledge of object weight or friction — work that has garnered over 160 combined citations across multiple studies. His intelligent robot hand systems, integrating proximity, contact, and slip sensing, represent a significant step toward replicating human dexterity in robotic systems. Shimojo's research extends beyond manipulation to include high-speed tactile feedback systems capable of remarkable feats such as one-handed rope knotting and dynamic pen spinning — demonstrations that vividly showcase the real-world potential of his sensor technologies. His net-structure and fingertip-size proximity sensors (cited 58 and 54 times respectively) offer wide sensing areas and sub-millisecond response times, advancing safe human-robot interaction. He has also contributed to mobile robotics through his wheel-leg hybrid robot design (95 citations) and explored bio-inspired underwater locomotion using piezoelectric fiber composites. Across his body of work, Shimojo has established himself as an inventive engineer bridging fundamental sensing research with practical robotic applications.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

22
H-Index
79
Papers
1,446
Total Citations
18
Avg Citations/Paper
🏆 Most Cited Paper
Mechanical design of the Wheel-Leg hybrid mobile robot to realize a large wheel diameter
95 citations · 2010
📈 Most Prolific Year: 2009 (10 Papers)
🤝 Key Collaborators: 103
🏛 Institutions: University of Electro-Communications, The University of Tokyo, Industrial Research Institute, Chiba University, Uganda Episcopal Conference, Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Technology Research Institute

Top Papers

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Key Collaborators

Contact & Links

Available for collaboration
Content generated · 43 days ago