Seiji Hata

About

Seiji Hata is a robotics researcher whose work spans several decades, with a career defined by the innovative integration of machine vision and robotic manipulation in demanding industrial environments. His research centers on three core areas: 3D vision systems for robotics, autonomous handling of complex objects, and intelligent sensor fusion for industrial automation. Hata's most influential contribution, dating to 1987, introduced a robot capable of handling unpositioned workpieces by combining three-dimensional vision with force sensing — a pioneering achievement in flexible assembly automation that earned 14 citations and laid conceptual groundwork for subsequent sensor-integrated robotic systems. Building on this foundation, he later applied similar principles to challenging domains including bio-production, developing a 3D vision-guided transplanting robot for clone nursery plants, and tackling the notoriously difficult problem of flexible object manipulation in laundry automation, where he designed cloth handling robot systems capable of operating under harsh industrial conditions involving dust, heat, and steam. His work on calibration error-tolerant stereo vision further demonstrates a commitment to practical, deployable solutions rather than purely theoretical advances. With research spanning assembly robotics, agricultural automation, and human-friendly production philosophies, Hata's career reflects a sustained effort to bridge sophisticated sensing technology with real-world manufacturing challenges.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Unpositioned Workpieces Handling Robot with Visual and Force Sensors

   14 citations · 1987
2. 2
   Clone Nursery Plant Trans-planting Robot System With 3-D Vision System

   5 citations · 2006
3. 3
   Flexible handling robot system for cloth

   4 citations · 2009
4. 4
   Status estimation of cloth handling robot using force sensor

   4 citations · 2009
5. 5
   Proposal of calibration error-tolerant 3D measurement method using stereo vision for robot vision

   4 citations · 2009
6. 6
   Design of cloth handling robot system

   3 citations · 2010
7. 7
   Cloth handling system for washing line

   3 citations · 2011
8. 8
   Cloth handling system for linen supply indust

   3 citations · 2011
9. 9
   Human Friendly Production System

   3 citations · 2007
10. 10
    Vision system for cloth handling robot

    2 citations · 2009

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links