Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Takao Ueno is a pioneering researcher in construction robotics and automation, best known for his groundbreaking work on tele-operated humanoid robots performing complex real-world tasks. His most celebrated contributions center on enabling humanoid robots to remotely operate heavy construction machinery — including lift trucks and backhoes — in hazardous environments where human presence would pose unacceptable risks. Most notably, Ueno's team achieved the world's first successful remote control of a humanoid robot driving an industrial vehicle outdoors under adverse weather conditions, a landmark accomplishment that garnered significant international attention and accumulated over 160 citations across related publications. His research addresses a critical challenge in construction safety: substituting robotic operators for humans in dangerous or inaccessible sites. Beyond teleoperation, Ueno's work spans several decades and disciplines, encompassing CAD and robotics in architecture, robot vision systems for sorting construction waste using Bayesian inference, lunar base construction concepts employing geotextile reinforcement methods, and unmanned construction support systems. His long-standing engagement with the International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction (ISARC), including contributing trend analyses of the field, reflects his sustained influence on shaping the trajectory of construction automation research globally.