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About

Masahiko Mikawa is a robotics researcher whose work spans human-machine interfaces, mobile robotics, and robot-human interaction. He is perhaps best known for his pioneering contributions to electromyogram (EMG)-based control systems, particularly his application of support vector machines (SVMs) to hand motion classification — a relatively unexplored approach at the time. His 2007 paper on myoelectric interfaces for robotic hand control has garnered 65 citations, while his complementary 2006 work on real-time EMG-based hand motion estimation has accumulated 53 citations, together establishing him as a significant contributor to prosthetic and assistive robotics research. Beyond EMG interfaces, Mikawa has made notable contributions to visual servoing for non-holonomic mobile robots, addressing the fundamental challenge of applying camera-based control to wheeled platforms with constrained degrees of freedom. His later research reflects a growing interest in human-robot coexistence in public spaces, exploring how robots can communicate intent through facial interfaces and expressive head movements to reduce discomfort among pedestrians. His work on librarian robots further demonstrates his commitment to practical, socially aware robotic systems. Across his career, Mikawa's research consistently bridges technical rigor with real-world human usability, making his work valuable to students and practitioners in human-robot interaction and rehabilitation robotics alike.