Tatsuo Sakai

Panasonic (Japan), Panasonic (United States)

Papers

5

Total Citations

111

H-Index

4

About

Tatsuo Sakai is a leading researcher in autonomous mobile robotics, with a focus on practical systems for healthcare and service environments. His work centers on developing robust control, navigation, and perception methods for robots operating in dynamic, human-filled spaces. Sakai’s most impactful contribution is a novel visible light communication system for controlling autonomous delivery robots in hospitals (87 citations), which addresses critical safety hazards often overlooked in conventional position-focused designs. He has also pioneered multi-robot conveyance systems, where groups of autonomous robots collaborate under hybrid control to improve transportation efficiency. To handle complex, cluttered environments, Sakai developed techniques for 3D dynamic environment recognition using selective memory from 2D sensors, enabling robots to detect moving obstacles like beds, wheelchairs, and people. A notable achievement is his work on SuiPPi, a practical cleaning robot that underwent long-term evaluation at Expo 2005, navigating a 2.6 km pedestrian loop with curves, slopes, and obstacles. Through these contributions, Sakai has advanced the real-world deployment of autonomous mobile robots, emphasizing safety, adaptability, and operational reliability.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

4
H-Index
5
Papers
111
Total Citations
22
Avg Citations/Paper
🏆 Most Cited Paper
A novel visible light communication system for enhanced control of autonomous delivery robots in a hospital
87 citations · 2012
📈 Most Prolific Year: 2012 (2 Papers)
🤝 Key Collaborators: 12
🏛 Institutions: Panasonic (Japan), Panasonic (United States)

Top Papers

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Key Collaborators

Contact & Links

Available for collaboration
Content generated · 14 days ago