Saori Matsunaga
Papers
8
Total Citations
64
H-Index
5
About
Saori Matsunaga is a leading roboticist whose research centers on soft robotic grippers, dexterous manipulation, and the automation of delicate assembly tasks—particularly for flexible flat cables (FFCs) used in modern electronics. Her major contributions include developing a locally-adaptive, parallel-jaw gripper with soft fingertips capable of both clamping and rolling, enabling fine manipulation of FFCs without damage. She also created a dexterous, reconfigurable robot hand that combines anthropomorphic and interdigitated configurations, expanding the range of in-hand manipulation tasks robots can perform. Matsunaga pioneered the use of kirigami-inspired, multi-layer soft grippers that are disposable, sensorized, and capable of delicate yet robust grasping, as well as single-grasp object identification. Her work on combining programming by demonstration with path optimization has facilitated more efficient assembly task execution. With over 60 citations across her most-cited papers, Matsunaga’s innovations are directly addressing critical challenges in agile manufacturing, where reducing reliance on highly trained human workers is paramount. Her achievements include developing a multi-modal gripper integrating dexterous tips, active nails, and a reconfigurable suction cup module, as well as a compression-based actuation system for compact soft grippers. Matsunaga’s research is shaping the future of robotic manipulation in electronics assembly and beyond.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8