Takashi Igarashi
National Center For Child Health and Development, The University of Tokyo
Papers
3
Total Citations
29
H-Index
2
About
Takashi Igarashi is a pioneering researcher in human-robot interaction, with a primary focus on the therapeutic applications of social robots in pediatric healthcare. His most impactful work centers on robot-assisted therapy for hospitalized children, particularly through group robot interventions (GRI) using Sony's dog-like social robot, "aibo." In his landmark 2021 pilot study (22 citations), Igarashi demonstrated the potential of GRI to reduce stress and improve emotional well-being among pediatric inpatients and their caregivers, addressing a critical gap in clinical applications of social robotics. Earlier in his career, Igarashi contributed to humanoid robotics, co-designing a 35-degree-of-freedom full-body humanoid (1997) capable of coordinated sit-stand and reach-and-grasp motions, serving as a foundational research testbed. His work bridges engineering innovation and compassionate care, showing how robots can enhance quality of life in medical settings. With growing citation impact, Igarashi’s research continues to inspire new directions in socially assistive robotics, offering tangible benefits for vulnerable populations.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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