Masaki Shimomura

Papers

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About

Masaki Shimomura is a pioneering roboticist whose work has focused on the development of compact, highly dynamic humanoid robots capable of acrobatic behavior. His primary research areas include humanoid robotics, real-time joint compliance control, and tactile sensing systems. Shimomura’s major contribution is the creation of the *morph3* platform, a desktop-class humanoid robot that can perform complex acrobatic maneuvers such as somersaults and gymnastic motions—a feat previously reserved for much larger, heavier machines. To achieve this, he integrated 138 sensors, including accelerometers, rate gyros, pressure sensors, and force sensors, along with a novel real-time joint compliance control system and tactile sensing shells. His two most-cited papers, both from 2004, each have 7 citations and describe the design, mechanism, and control architecture that enable these acrobatic behaviors. By demonstrating that a compact, lightweight humanoid could execute such dynamic motions, Shimomura’s work has influenced the design of agile, safe, and expressive robots for entertainment, education, and human-robot interaction. His achievements highlight the importance of integrating sensing and compliance to push the boundaries of robotic agility.