Masayuki Inab

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Masayuki Inaba is a pioneering figure in humanoid robotics, whose work has fundamentally shaped the field of full-body sensing and soft robot design. His research focuses on creating robots that can safely and intelligently interact with their environment, particularly through the development of distributed tactile sensing systems. Inaba’s major contribution is the creation of a humanoid robot equipped with a full-body soft plastic foam cover, which acts as artificial flesh, and a distributed multi-axis deformation sense. This innovation allows the robot to detect and respond to physical contact across its entire body, a critical step toward safe human-robot collaboration. While his most-cited paper on this topic has garnered 5 citations, its conceptual impact is far greater, laying the groundwork for later advances in soft robotics and tactile sensing. Inaba is also known for his work on the HRP series of humanoid robots and for integrating whole-body motion control with sensory feedback. His achievements have earned him recognition as a leader in the Japanese robotics community, inspiring a generation of researchers to explore how robots can be made more adaptable, resilient, and human-friendly through soft, sensor-rich exteriors.