Michihiko Furuhashi

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Michihiko Furuhashi is a pioneering researcher in haptic communication and assistive robotics, whose work centers on developing touch-based interaction systems for hearing-impaired individuals. His major contributions lie in creating robots that replicate the functionality of hearing dogs—animals trained to alert deaf or hard-of-hearing people to critical sounds like fire alarms and smoke detectors. Furuhashi’s key innovation is the Active Touch Communication Robot (AcToR), which uses physical contact to convey urgent notifications, bypassing auditory channels entirely. His most cited paper, “Haptic Communication Robot for Urgent Notification of Hearing-Impaired People” (2016, 14 citations), establishes the foundational concept of using robot embodiment for tactile alerts. A second highly cited work (2015, 8 citations) further refines this approach, emphasizing how touch-based information transfer can enhance human-robot interaction. Collectively, his research has garnered over 28 citations, demonstrating growing interest in inclusive, non-verbal communication technologies. Furuhashi’s work is notable for its direct inspiration from animal-assisted assistance, translating biological behaviors into engineered solutions that empower hearing-impaired users. By prioritizing haptic feedback over visual or auditory cues, he addresses a critical gap in accessibility, offering a discreet, reliable method for urgent notification. His contributions are especially relevant as society seeks more equitable, human-centered robotics.