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About

Maki Shibuya is a leading researcher in the field of bipedal robotics, with a primary focus on achieving stable and natural walking patterns for humanoid robots. Her work centers on the critical challenge of motion planning, particularly through the innovative use of the Zero-Moment Point (ZMP) criterion and the Linear Pendulum Mode (LPM). Shibuya’s major contributions include pioneering a trajectory planning method that leverages LPM specifically for the double support phase—a crucial period for stability that is often simplified in other models. Her most influential paper, "Trajectory Planning of Biped Robot Using Linear Pendulum Mode for Double Support Phase" (2006), has garnered 42 citations and established a foundational approach for ensuring walking stability by modeling the robot as a pendulum. She further advanced the field by introducing the concept of a Virtual Supporting Point (VSP), which allows for more flexible and robust trajectory generation by virtually maneuvering the pendulum’s support point. Her body of work, which includes highly cited papers on ZMP-based body trajectory planning, has significantly impacted how researchers design controllers for stable, energy-efficient bipedal locomotion, making her a notable figure in humanoid robotics.