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About

Yoshikiyo Kanada is a leading researcher at the frontier of assistive robotics and rehabilitation engineering, with a primary focus on restoring mobility and independence for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), the elderly, and people with disabilities. His most impactful work, a comprehensive literature review on wearable robotic exoskeletons (WREs) for gait reconstruction (52 citations), provides a critical framework for evidence-based clinical decision-making, helping clinicians select optimal devices based on residual motor function. Kanada’s contributions extend beyond exoskeletons into smart home environments, where his Robotic Smart Home (RSH) project pioneers the integration of assistive robots into confined living spaces to enhance safety and comfort. He has also developed novel transfer-assist technologies, such as the Lateral Transfer Assist Robot (LTAR), addressing the high-risk challenge of wheelchair transfers. His recent work on fall prevention systems for WRE users and the use of companion robots to alleviate depression in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates a holistic approach to rehabilitation—combining physical mobility with mental well-being. With a growing body of work that spans hardware design, human-robot interaction, and clinical application, Kanada is shaping the future of inclusive, robotic-assisted living.