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About

Satoko Yamakawa is a robotics researcher whose work bridges the gap between autonomous systems and real-time human interaction. Her key research areas include robotic control systems, autonomous navigation, and human-robot interaction, with a particular focus on dynamic environments. Her most notable contribution is the development of the "MRO Brothers," a fully automatic badminton-playing robot that uses a Kinect sensor to detect shuttlecocks and estimate their trajectories in real time—a breakthrough in high-speed robotic response and object tracking. This work, her most cited with 13 citations, demonstrates her ability to apply complex control theory to practical, engaging applications. Yamakawa has also advanced mobile robot control using the time-state control form, enabling precise auto-parking and tracking control for wheeled inverted pendulums. Beyond technical innovation, she is dedicated to engineering education, having designed a continuous project-based learning program at Toyo University’s Department of System Robotics to sustain student motivation through foundational studies. Her research not only pushes the boundaries of autonomous robotics but also inspires the next generation of engineers.