T. Nakata
Papers
2
Total Citations
11
H-Index
2
About
T. Nakata has dedicated their career to advancing assistive robotics, with a primary focus on developing autonomous navigation systems for visually impaired individuals. Their most significant contributions center on the creation and refinement of the Robotic Travel Aid (RoTA), an intelligent cart designed to guide users safely through complex environments. This 60 kg, 1-meter tall mobile robot integrates computer vision, stereo cameras, and a voice interface to perceive and navigate its surroundings, enabling safe street crossings and obstacle avoidance. Nakata’s work builds on the foundational "Harunobu" series of autonomous mobile robots, which began in 1982 and demonstrated campus-wide autonomous travel. By 1995, Nakata pivoted this technology toward assistive applications, culminating in projects like the Matching Fund Project for Practical Use of RoTA (2004, 6 citations) and a strategy for crossing with "Harunobu" (2002, 5 citations). Though their citation counts are modest, Nakata’s pioneering efforts in human-centered robotics and real-world deployment of assistive technologies have laid critical groundwork for accessible autonomous systems, influencing subsequent research in robotic guidance and inclusive design.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1
- 2A strategy for crossing of the robotic travel aid "Harunobu"5 citations · 2002