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About

Tomomi Kito is a robotics researcher whose work bridges the critical gap between autonomous navigation and dexterous manipulation in human-centered environments. Kito’s primary research areas include smooth path planning for car-like robots and vision-based object handling for service robotics. In path planning, Kito made a significant contribution by developing a visibility graph-like method that generates paths satisfying maximum curvature, curvature derivative, and curvature continuity constraints—essential for intuitive human operation and smooth robot motion. This work, published in 2004, has garnered 32 citations, reflecting its foundational role in nonholonomic motion planning. In parallel, Kito pioneered a mark-based object handling system that uses visual markers combining pose indicators and QR codes to enable a fixed manipulator to recognize, locate, and manipulate multiple heterogeneous objects in unstructured home or office settings. This system, with 31 citations, demonstrates a practical approach to robotic interaction with everyday items. Kito’s research is notable for its focus on real-world applicability, addressing both the kinematic constraints of mobile robots and the perceptual challenges of manipulation, making it valuable for students and engineers developing service robots that must operate safely and effectively alongside humans.