PhD Student · The University of Tokyo

Yuki Kawawaki

I am currently a 3rd-year Ph.D. student in the High-Speed and Flexible Robot Laboratory at The University of Tokyo. My research interests include human–robot collaboration, high-speed processing, and robot dexterous manipulation.

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Yuki Kawawaki

PhD in Mechanical Engineering
The University of Tokyo

Email · GitHub · LinkedIn · ResearchGate

About

I am a researcher in robotics and intelligent systems, currently affiliated with the High-Speed and Flexible Robot Laboratory at the University of Tokyo. My work focuses on combining high-speed perception, robot control, and learning-based approaches to enable robust human–robot collaboration in dynamic environments.

My research spans multiple object tracking, skeleton tracking, collision-free path planning, reinforcement learning, model predictive control, and dexterous robotic manipulation. I am particularly interested in building robotic systems that can perceive, reason, and act quickly and safely alongside humans.

Demonstration Videos

High-speed MOT

Real-time Collision-free Motion Planning

Human-Robot Cooperative Catching

Coarse-to-Fine Robot Catching

Human-Robot Collaborative Tidying

Human-Robot Collaborative Rope Turning

High-Speed Feedback Control for Electrical Stimulation

Education

The University of Tokyo

2024.4 – Present

PhD in Mechanical Engineering

The University of Tokyo

2024.3

M.S. in Mechanical Engineering

The University of Tokyo

2022.3

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering

Imperial College London

2025.10 – 2026.03

Visiting Student, Personal Robotics Lab

University of California, Berkeley

2023.3

Visiting Student, MSC Lab

The University of Sheffield

2022.8

English Learning Program

Experience

Robotics Intern — Zeals, Omakase Robotics, Japan

2026.05 – Present

Robotics Intern — OMRON SINIC X, Japan

2025.05 – 2025.09

Research Assistant — Tokyo University of Science, Japan

2024.06 – 2025.03

Research Intern — Hitachi, Ltd., Japan

2024.09 – 2024.12

Software Intern — WALC Inc., Japan

2023.01 – 2023.08

Research Assistant — The University of Tokyo, Japan

2022.07 – 2023.12

Research Areas

Topics

Human–robot collaboration, intelligent robotics, high-speed processing

Computer Vision

Multiple object tracking, skeleton tracking, deep learning

Robot Control

Collision-free path planning, reinforcement learning, MPC, hybrid position/force control

Selected Publications

International Journal Papers (4)

Kawawaki, Y., Huang, S., Yamakawa, Y., & Ishikawa, M. (2026). Effect of control frequency on closed-loop electrical muscle stimulation for biceps–triceps in healthy participants: a pilot study. Sci Rep.

DOI |

Kawawaki, Y., Murakami, K., & Yamakawa, Y. (2026). Human-robot cooperative catching with high-speed skeleton tracking and adaptive collision-free motion planning. Advanced Robotics, 1–20.

DOI | Demo

Kawawaki, Y.; Yamakawa, Y. (2025). High-Speed Multiple Object Tracking Based on Fusion of Intelligent and Real-Time Image Processing. Sensors, 25, 3400.

DOI | Demo

Kawawaki, Y.; Murakami, K.; Yamakawa, Y. (2025). Collision-Free Path Planning in Dynamic Environment Using High-Speed Skeleton Tracking and Geometry-Informed Potential Field Method. Robotics, 14, 65.

DOI | Demo

International Conferences (4)

Kawawaki Y., D'Antona A., Yamakawa Y. and Demiris. Y. (2026). Rapid Human-Robot Collaborative Tidying with Personal Space aware Policy Adaptation. 2026 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS 2026). (Accepted) .

Kawawaki Y., Demiris Y. and Yamakawa Y. (2026). Coarse-to-Fine Robot Catching Strategy with GC-BiLSTM Human Intent Recognition. 2026 35th IEEE International Conference on Robot and Human Interactive Communication (RO-MAN 2026) (Accepted).

Kawawaki, Y., Huang, S., Yamakawa, Y., Ishikawa, M. (2025). Rotational Control of Human Elbow Joint by Electrical Stimulation Based on High-Speed Visual Feedback. 2025 IEEE International Conference on Cyborg and Bionic Systems (CBS 2025). Best Cyborg Award Finalist

DOI

Kawawaki, Y., Yamakawa, Y. (2025) End-to-end Temporal Image Analysis Using Supervised and Self-supervised Deep Learning Model and its Application to Laser Processing. ICIVP2025

DOI

Japanese Journal (1) and Conferences (7)

Journal of the Robotics Society of Japan (2025): Real-time Collision Avoidance in Dynamic Environments Using a High-speed Skeleton Tracking Method and Velocity Potential Method
DOI
ROBOMECH2026: Human–Robot Collaborative Long Rope Turning via Two-Stage Imitation and Residual Policy Learning (To appear)
SI2025: Real-Time Tracking of Pitching Motion Using High-Speed Vision
ROBOMECH2025: Controller Design Using Reinforcement Learning for Cooperative Long Rope Turning with Human and Robot Arm
SI2024: Latest Image Generation from Time-Series Images Using a Deep Learning Model and Its Application to Laser Analysis — Excellent Speaker
SI2024: Implementation and Performance Evaluation of Electrical Stimulation Feedback Control Based on High-Speed Vision for One-Degree-of-Freedom Upper Arm Rotational Motion
RSJ2024: Real-Time Collision Avoidance in Dynamic Environments Using a High-Speed Skeleton Tracking Method and Velocity Potential Method
RSJ2023: Real-Time Catching with Trajectory Prediction Based on Deep Learning-Based Object Detection and High-Speed Tracking

Awards

2025 IEEE International Conference on Cyborg and Bionic Systems — Best Cyborg Award Finalist
2025 Outstanding Student Award, Physical AI Program, Matsuo–Iwasawa Laboratory, The University of Tokyo
2024 Excellent Presentation Award, System Integration Division (SI2024), SICE