PhD Student · The University of Tokyo

Yuki Kawawaki

Thank you for taking the time to view my portfolio! I am a third-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 Student in Mechanical Engineering
The University of Tokyo

Email · GitHub · LinkedIn · ResearchGate

About

I am a robotics researcher at the High-Speed and Flexible Robot Laboratory, The University of Tokyo. My long-term goal is to realize a future in which humans and robots can safely and efficiently collaborate in dynamic real-world environments.

My research centers on Highly Responsive Human–Robot Collaboration, integrating high-speed perception, human intent understanding, adaptive motion planning, robot control, and learning-based methods. Through this work, I aim to bridge fundamental robotics research and real-world deployment in manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and everyday human-centered environments.

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 – 2026.08

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)

Yuki Kawawaki, Shouren Huang, Yuji Yamakawa and Masatoshi Ishikawa. (2026). Effect of control frequency on closed-loop electrical muscle stimulation for biceps-triceps in healthy participants: a pilot study. Scientific Reports.

DOI |

Yuki Kawawaki, Kenichi Murakami and Yuji Yamakawa. (2026). Human-robot cooperative catching with high-speed skeleton tracking and adaptive collision-free motion planning. Advanced Robotics, Vol.40, No.11, pp.632-651.

DOI | Demo

Yuki Kawawaki and Yuji Yamakawa. (2025). High-Speed Multiple Object Tracking Based on Fusion of Intelligent and Real-Time Image Processing. Sensors, Vol.25, Issue 11, Article No. 3400.

DOI | Demo

Yuki Kawawaki, Kenichi Murakami and Yuji Yamakawa. (2025). Collision-Free Path Planning in Dynamic Environment Using High-Speed Skeleton Tracking and Geometry-Informed Potential Field Method. Robotics, Vol.14, Issue 5, Article No. 65.

DOI | Demo

International Conferences (4)

Yuki Kawawaki, Andrea D’Antona, Yuji Yamakawa and Yiannis Demiris. (2026). Rapid Human-Robot Collaborative Tidying with Personal Space aware Policy Adaptation. 2026 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS) (Pittsburgh, USA, 2026.9.29)／Proceedings, pp.11663-11670.

Demo

Yuki Kawawaki, Yiannis Demiris and Yuji Yamakawa. (2026). Coarse-To-Fine Robot Catching Strategy with GC-BiLSTM Human Intent Recognition. 35th IEEE International Conference on Robot and Human Interactive Communication (RO-MAN 2026) (Kitakyushu, 2026.8.26)

DOI | Demo

Yuki Kawawaki, Shouren Huang, Yuji Yamakawa, Masatoshi Ishikawa. (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) (Beijing, China, 2025.10.17)／Proceedings, pp.31-36. Best Cyborg Award Finalist

DOI

Yuki Kawawaki and Yuji Yamakawa. (2025). End-to-end Temporal Image Analysis Using Supervised and Self-supervised Deep Learning Model and its Application to Laser Processing. 2025 International Conference on Image and Video Processing (ICIVP 2025) (Jeju Island, Korea, 2025.4.24)／Proceedings, IC0014.

DOI

Japanese Journal (1) and Conferences (8)

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
RSJ2026: Dynamic Shape Control of Deformable Linear Object through Human–Robot Collaboration Based on Adaptive Jacobian Estimation and Model Predictive Control.
ROBOMECH2026: Human–Robot Collaborative Long Rope Turning via Two-Stage Imitation and Residual Policy Learning.
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