Papers
6
Total Citations
125
H-Index
5
About
Hironobu Takagi is a pioneering researcher in assistive technology and accessible navigation, with a particular focus on improving mobility and autonomy for people with visual impairments. His work centers on developing innovative navigation systems—ranging from map-less indoor navigation to autonomous robotic guides—that address real-world challenges faced by blind individuals in unfamiliar environments. Takagi's most influential contribution, "PathFinder" (2023, 41 citations), tackles the costly limitations of prebuilt map-dependent navigation by designing a practical map-less alternative. Complementing this, his robotic navigation research explores how autonomous systems can guide blind users through complex public spaces such as museums and transit stations, as demonstrated in his work on BlindPilot (2020, 27 citations) and science museum exploration systems (2023, 27 citations). Notably, Takagi extends his inquiry beyond pure technology, examining how users, facility managers, and bystanders perceive and accept these systems—recognizing that social adoption is as critical as technical performance. His most recent work pushes boundaries further by challenging the passive "omakase" model of robot control, advocating instead for shared agency between blind users and navigation robots. With a growing citation record and impactful field deployments, Takagi is shaping an accessible future where independence for blind individuals is genuinely within reach.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 5Field Trials of Autonomous Navigation Robot for Visually Impaired People5 citations · 2025
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