Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Shingo Ohno is a leading researcher in the emerging field of power soft robotics, where he tackles the fundamental challenge of combining high-force output with safe, compliant motion. His work centers on developing and controlling robots driven by hydraulic artificial muscles—specifically McKibben actuators—which offer superior power density compared to pneumatic alternatives. Ohno’s major contributions include pioneering safety-enhanced control strategies that enable these powerful soft robots to perform complex collaborative tasks without endangering human coworkers. He has also developed advanced trajectory tracking methods with hysteresis compensators to overcome the inherent nonlinearities of soft actuators, achieving precise motion control. Demonstrating the practical scalability of his approach, Ohno experimentally validated a 1.5-meter-long, 7-degree-of-freedom power soft robot using 29 hydraulic artificial muscles—a landmark achievement in the field. His most-cited work (21 citations) on safety-enhanced control has become a foundational reference, while his 2023 paper on hysteresis compensation (13 citations) addresses a critical barrier to real-world adoption. Ohno’s research bridges the gap between soft robotics’ inherent safety and the strength needed for industrial applications, positioning him as a key innovator in next-generation collaborative robotics.