Motofumi SASAKI

Tokyo Institute of Technology, University of Toyama

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Motofumi Sasaki is a pioneering robotics researcher whose work centers on the design and control of mobile robots for extreme environments, particularly search and rescue operations. His most influential contribution is the development of a higher jumping rescue robot, detailed in his 2006 paper (87 citations), where he optimized pneumatic drive systems to enable vertical leaps for overcoming debris. By deriving fundamental equations for jumping dynamics and analyzing the relationship between pressure-receiving area and jump height, Sasaki established a quantitative framework for designing agile, terrain-agnostic robots. He further advanced the field through his work on the Jump & Rotation Mobile Robot, a platform capable of selectively generating both jumping and rotational motions to navigate collapsed structures while maintaining remote operability. Sasaki also addressed practical deployment challenges, such as improving remote control timing for jumps and enhancing traversal during rotation. His research on a safely mowing robot for steep slopes (2009) demonstrates a broader interest in autonomous systems for hazardous terrains. With a career focused on bridging theoretical mechanics and real-world robotic locomotion, Sasaki’s work continues to inspire engineers building resilient, high-mobility robots for disaster response.