Papers
37
Total Citations
764
H-Index
12
About
Mihoko Otake is a multidisciplinary researcher whose work spans soft robotics, human-robot interaction, and cognitive health technology. Her early career established foundational contributions in electroactive polymer gel robotics, with pioneering studies on the kinematics and motion design of gel-based robots — including a notably inventive starfish-shaped soft robot — that attracted over 100 citations and helped shape the emerging field of deformable robotic systems. Otake's research later evolved toward socially intelligent systems, contributing to SIGVerse, a simulation platform designed to model complex social interactions between agents and their environments. Her most cited work, "Voice in Human–Agent Interaction" (2021, 222 citations), reflects her growing influence in understanding how voice serves as a critical modality connecting social robots, conversational agents, and voice assistants to everyday human life. Perhaps most meaningfully, Otake has channeled these threads into applied research on aging and cognitive wellbeing. Her randomized controlled trial of the PICMOR program demonstrated that robot-moderated group conversation can measurably support cognition in older adults. Across disciplines — from polymer chemistry to dementia prevention — Otake exemplifies how robotics research can evolve into profoundly human-centered impact.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Voice in Human–Agent Interaction222 citations · 2021
- 2Motion design of a starfish-shaped gel robot made of electro-active polymer gel113 citations · 2002
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- 6Pose estimation of a mobile robot on a lattice of RFID tags33 citations · 2008
- 7Inverse kinematics of gel robots made of electro-active polymer gel25 citations · 2003
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- 9Kinematics of gel robots made of electro-active polymer PAMPS gel17 citations · 2002
- 10Electroactive Polymer Gel Robots15 citations · 2010