Papers
19
Total Citations
777
H-Index
11
About
Masahiro Ono is a pioneering robotics and autonomous systems researcher whose work sits at the intersection of probabilistic planning, risk-aware decision-making, and planetary exploration. Best known for his foundational contributions to chance-constrained stochastic control, his 2010 paper on probabilistic particle-control approximation has accumulated over 340 citations and remains a cornerstone reference for researchers designing robust controllers that navigate real-world uncertainty arising from sensor noise, modeling errors, and component failures. His early 2008 work on motion planning for stochastic dynamic systems further established his reputation as a leading voice in balancing risk and reward in autonomous navigation. Ono has translated these theoretical advances into transformative applications at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where he has contributed to Mars rover autonomy through projects like MAARS and the Mars 2020 Enhanced Navigation system. Perhaps most ambitiously, he leads development of EELS, a snake-like robot designed to explore the icy vents of Enceladus — one of the most scientifically compelling targets in the search for extraterrestrial life. With over 700 cumulative citations across his portfolio, Ono's research uniquely bridges rigorous mathematical foundations and bold real-world space exploration missions.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 5MAARS: Machine learning-based Analytics for Automated Rover Systems29 citations · 2020
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- 8Enceladus Vent Explorer Concept16 citations · 2018
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- 10Road-following formation control of autonomous ground vehicles12 citations · 2015