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About

Yasutoshi Makino is a pioneering researcher in human-robot interaction, soft robotics, and tactile sensing technologies. His most celebrated work, the "PINOKY" system (2012, 43 citations), introduced a wireless ring-like device that can be externally attached to any plush toy, instantly transforming it into an animatable soft robot—a concept that bridges the gap between everyday objects and interactive robotics. Makino has also made significant contributions to mid-air robotic manipulation, demonstrating a lightweight balloon robot propelled by ultrasound plane waves (2018, 18 citations), enabling three-dimensional movement without onboard actuators. His foundational work on two-dimensional communication technology (2005, 9 citations) and large-area tactile sensors (2006, 6 citations) has advanced the development of robot skin, solving wiring challenges through innovative electromagnetic field propagation. More recently, Makino has focused on machine learning-based human-following systems (2021, 8 citations; 2024, 2 citations), developing predictive algorithms that allow robots to follow humans from the front, enhancing natural human-robot interaction. His research consistently emphasizes creating intuitive, accessible interfaces between humans and machines, with a total impact spanning over 90 citations across his most influential papers.