Masahiro Kato

Meijo University, Chiba Institute of Technology

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Masahiro Kato is a robotics researcher whose work focuses on assistive mobility and intelligent robot control, with a particular emphasis on developing innovative walking-aid systems. His primary research areas include human-robot interaction, rehabilitation robotics, and mobile robot navigation. Kato’s major contribution lies in the design and stabilization of a cane-type single-wheel inverted pendulum robot that applies the “light touch effect”—a phenomenon where minimal physical contact significantly improves human balance. In his 2018 paper, “Stabilization of Walking with Walking-Aid Cane Robot Applying Light Touch Effect” (4 citations), he experimentally demonstrated that his lightweight, compact robot could reduce trunk sway during walking, offering a promising alternative to traditional canes for use in narrow or stepped environments. His related 2017 work (3 citations) further explored this concept, aiming to create a practical, everyday walking aid. Additionally, Kato has advanced mobile robot autonomy through his 2018 paper, “Teach-and-Replay of Mobile Robot with Particle Filter on Episode” (3 citations), which introduced a novel method for robots to replay past behaviors by efficiently matching current situations to stored memories. Though his citation counts are modest, Kato’s work represents a thoughtful integration of biomechanics and robotics, with potential applications in aging populations and rehabilitation.