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About

Sumitaka Honji is a rising researcher at the intersection of soft robotics and human-robot interaction, whose work addresses the fundamental challenge of making soft, compliant robots controllable and intuitive for human collaboration. His research centers on modeling the complex, nonlinear behaviors of soft robotic fingers—particularly their creep dynamics and parameter uncertainty—to enable model-based control strategies that can achieve the dexterity required for real-world tasks. Honji’s most cited paper, "Stochastic approach for modeling soft fingers with creep behavior" (2023, 7 citations), introduces a probabilistic framework that captures the unpredictable deformation of soft materials, a critical step toward reliable robotic grasping. Complementing this, his work on vibrotactile feedback systems for forearm-wearable devices (2025) explores how subtle vibration signals can guide human reaching and handover motions, bridging the gap between robotic intent and human perception. By developing a combination device that integrates vibration and tightening cues, Honji is pioneering methods for seamless human-robot handovers in collaborative workplaces. His research, though early in its citation impact, promises to unlock safer, more responsive soft robots that can work alongside people with unprecedented precision and trust.