Noriaki Imaoka
Papers
6
Total Citations
47
H-Index
4
About
Noriaki Imaoka is a robotics researcher dedicated to creating robots that seamlessly integrate into human environments, with a primary focus on service robotics, human-robot interaction, and novel locomotion systems. His work addresses critical safety and mobility challenges, from high-rise building maintenance to personal transportation. Imaoka’s most notable contribution is the “SkyScraper-I,” a tethered window-cleaning robot designed to automate dangerous manual tasks, a paper that has garnered 26 citations and highlights his commitment to practical, life-saving applications. He has also pioneered transformable human-carrying wheel-leg mobility platforms, enabling robots to navigate complex terrains while ensuring passenger stability. His innovative approach includes a bipedal robot that utilizes passive wheels to eliminate the need for a swing leg, enhancing stability through an expanded support polygon. Further, Imaoka has developed autonomous navigation methods for crowded spaces, using robotic arms with involute-shaped hands to gently maneuver humans, and has contributed to automatic braking systems for robotic wheelchairs like the “WHILL NEXT.” His trajectory generation techniques for leg-wheeled robots, accounting for external forces, demonstrate a deep understanding of dynamic stability. With a citation count exceeding 45 across his key works, Imaoka’s research is paving the way for safer, more capable robots that assist in daily life.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1SkyScraper-I: Tethered whole windows cleaning robot26 citations · 2010
- 2A transformable human-carrying wheel–leg mobility for daily use8 citations · 2021
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- 5A Robotic Personal Mobility with Two-step Automatic Stopping Function2 citations · 2018
- 6