Taisuke Sakaki

About

Taisuke Sakaki is a pioneering roboticist whose research has fundamentally shaped the fields of impedance control, rehabilitation robotics, and human-robot interaction. His seminal work on impedance control for direct-drive manipulators, which eliminates the need for force sensors, has been cited 37 times and remains a cornerstone for compliant robot motion and stable contact tasks. Sakaki further advanced this domain by analyzing contact stability in impedance control methods (26 citations) and developing impedance-controlled master-slave systems for tele-existence applications (25 citations), addressing critical challenges in time-delayed remote manipulation. Beyond industrial robotics, Sakaki has made transformative contributions to assistive and rehabilitation technologies. He has designed wearable upper-extremity robots that estimate user intention for proactive meal assistance, and developed walking training robots for spinal cord injury (SCI) patients, including a robotic stretcher for individuals with spinal muscular atrophy. His work on welfare robot design methodologies has informed the creation of practical, commercializable assistive devices. With over 130 total citations across his most influential papers, Sakaki’s research bridges theoretical control theory and real-world applications, demonstrating a sustained commitment to enhancing human mobility and independence through intelligent robotic systems.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Impedance control of a direct-drive manipulator without using force sensors

   37 citations · 1990
2. 2
   Contact Stability Analysis on Some Impedance Control Methods.

   26 citations · 1994
3. 3
   Impedance controlled master-slave manipulation system. Part 1. Basic concept and application to the system with a time delay

   25 citations · 1991
4. 4
   Estimation of intention of user arm motion for the proactive motion of upper extremity supporting robot

   13 citations · 2009
5. 5
   Rehabilitation robots assisting in walking training for SCI patient

   8 citations · 2013
6. 6
   Impedance control of a manipulator using torque-controlled lightweight actuators

   7 citations · 1992
7. 7
   An effective design method for welfare robot and its application to the design of meal-assistance robot

   7 citations · 2008
8. 8
   Robotic Stretcher for SMA Patient: Preliminary Tests on Controllability and Safety

   6 citations · 2011
9. 9
   Rehabilitation robots assisting in walking training for SCI patient

   4 citations · 2012
10. 10
    Research and development of wearable auxiliary tool for behavior assistance of elderly who requires nursing care

    4 citations · 2017

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links