Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Shinji Kotani is a pioneering researcher in assistive robotics and autonomous mobile systems, best known for his groundbreaking work developing robotic travel aids for visually impaired individuals. Over the course of more than two decades, Kotani led the design and engineering of two landmark systems — HITOMI and HARUNOBU — motorized wheelchairs integrating vision systems, sonar, differential GPS, dead reckoning, and portable GIS technologies to guide blind users safely through sidewalks and campus environments. These systems, documented across his most-cited publications (earning collectively over 140 citations), represented some of the earliest and most sophisticated attempts to combine sensor fusion and spatial intelligence in accessibility-focused robotics. Kotani's work addressed not only technical navigation challenges but also critical safety considerations, including danger estimation at intersections and behavioral protocols for secure travel in real-world environments. His research helped establish foundational frameworks for human-assistive autonomous systems that influenced subsequent work in the field. In later years, Kotani broadened his scope to include autonomous mobile robots for forestry applications, LiDAR-SLAM-based road surface detection, and 3D scan matching for localization over rough terrain, demonstrating a sustained commitment to applying robotics across diverse societal needs — from accessibility to industrial automation.