Tatsuhiko Saito

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, The University of Tokyo

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Tatsuhiko Saito is a pioneering roboticist whose work bridges the frontiers of space robotics and surgical automation. His research focuses on the dynamic control of free-flying robots, particularly for capturing tumbling objects in microgravity, and the development of haptic feedback systems for minimally invasive surgery. Saito’s most notable contribution is his 2018 paper on online path planning and compliance control for space robots capturing large, rotating debris—a critical challenge for orbital debris removal and on-orbit servicing. This work, with 13 citations, demonstrates how coordinated spacecraft-manipulator motion can safely grasp fast-moving targets. In 2005, he advanced medical robotics with a master-slave manipulation system featuring force feedback for endoscopic surgery, enabling surgeons to feel tissue resistance during delicate procedures (9 citations). His recent 2023 hardware-in-the-loop simulator for low-thrust actuators allows realistic 3D testing of free-flying robots’ omni-directional control, accelerating the validation of guidance and navigation systems. Saito’s dual expertise in space and surgical robotics highlights his unique ability to solve complex motion control problems across extreme environments, making him a key figure in both autonomous manipulation and human-robot interaction.