KEIO RESEARCHERS INFORMATION SYSTEM

Profile Summary 【 Display / hide 】

Profile Summary 【 Display / hide 】

• Dr. Yukiko Osawa received her B.E. degree (2015) in system design engineering and the M.E. (2016) and Ph.D. degrees (2019) in integrated design engineering from Keio University, Yokohama, Japan. She was a Research Fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) from 2017 to 2019. From 2019 to 2021, she was a JSPS Overseas Research Fellow and worked as a postdoctoral researcher at CNRS, LIRMM in France, involved in IDH (Interactive Digital Humans) team. From 2021 to 2024, she worked at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) in Tokyo, Japan. She currently works as a Senior Assistant Professor in the Department of Applied Physics and Physico-Informatics at Keio University, Yokohama, Japan. She was the recipient of the Distinguished Paper Award from the Institute of Electric Engineers of Japan (IEEJ) in 2017, the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Ikushi Award in 2018, and the SICE International Young Authors Award in 2022. Her research interests include human interface, human-robot interaction, haptics, and thermal systems. She is a Member of IEEJ, SICE, RSJ, and IEEE.

Other Affiliation 【 Display / hide 】

Other Affiliation 【 Display / hide 】

• National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology , Collaborative researcher

Career 【 Display / hide 】

Career 【 Display / hide 】

• 2017.04

  -

  2019.03

  Keio University, JSPS Research Fellow (DC1)

• 2019.04

  -

  2021.03

  JSPS Overseas Research Fellow, CNRS-UM LIRMM

• 2021.04

  -

  2024.03

  National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Industrial CPS Research Center

• 2024.04

  -

  Present

  Keio University, Faculty of Science and Technology Department of Applied Physics and Physico-Informatics

• 2024.04

  -

  Present

  National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Integrated Research Center for Wellbeing, Collaborative researcher

Academic Background 【 Display / hide 】

Academic Background 【 Display / hide 】

• 2011.04

  -

  2015.03

  Keio University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of System Design Engineering

  University, Graduated

• 2015.04

  -

  2016.09

  Keio University, Department of Integrated Design Engineering

  Graduate School, Completed, Master's course

• 2016.09

  -

  2019.03

  Keio University, Department of Integrated Design Engineering

  Graduate School, Completed, Doctoral course

Academic Degrees 【 Display / hide 】

Academic Degrees 【 Display / hide 】

• Doctor (Engineering), Keio University, Coursework, 2019.03

  Modeling and Control of Heat Conduction System Based on Spatial Information

Research Areas 【 Display / hide 】

Research Areas 【 Display / hide 】

• Manufacturing Technology (Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Chemical Engineering) / Control and system engineering

• Informatics / Human interface and interaction

Research Keywords 【 Display / hide 】

Research Keywords 【 Display / hide 】

• Human Interface

• Physical Human-Robot Interaction

• Tactile/Thermal Sensing and Control

Papers 【 Display / hide 】

Papers 【 Display / hide 】

• Visualizing Spatial Heat Transfer Using Thin-Thermochromic Sensor

  Iwane H., Osawa Y.

  IEEE Sensors Journal  2026

  Lead author, Corresponding author,  ISSN  1530437X

  　View Summary

  Thermal sensing enables the acquisition of thermal properties such as the material distribution and internal state of a contacted object, which cannot be obtained through tactile or visual sensing. However, conventional thermal sensors require an array of multiple sensors to improve spatial resolution, making it challenging to achieve high spatial resolution sensing at the contact surface. In this study, we developed a sensor capable of spatially visualizing heat transfer at the contact surface. We proposed a method to extract the material distribution of the contact object using the ratio of color changes in the sensor. The proposed sensor is constructed with color schemes and layered structures that establish a correlation between temperature and the LAB color space while reducing the influence of ambient light. Dynamic color variations are converted into the spatial heat transfer at the contact surface, allowing the discrimination of different contact materials. Moreover, the sensor enables visualization of the internal material properties of an object enclosed with different materials. The effectiveness of the proposed method is experimentally validated through distributed material identification of contact objects.

  • Access to Document (DOI)

• Thin-Film Thermal Discoloration Sensor for Distributed Material Identification

  Iwane H., Osawa Y.

  2026 IEEE SICE International Symposium on System Integration Sii 2026    438 - 443 2026

  Lead author, Corresponding author

  　View Summary

  This paper proposes a thin-film sensor that visualizes heat transfer at contact surfaces through color changes, using thermochromic pigments specifically designed for material identification. By capturing the color change as time-series image data, the spatial distribution of heat transfer across the contact surface can be obtained, enabling differentiation of contact materials. The sensor provides a visual representation of heat flow across the interface between the sensor and the object. Experimental results demonstrate the potential of the proposed sensor for material identification and spatial heat transfer analysis.

  • Access to Document (DOI)

• Fluid-based robot skin for contact detection and thermal stimulation

  Shionoiri, D; Osawa, Y

  ROBOMECH JOURNAL 12 ( 1 )  2025.11

  Lead author, Corresponding author,  ISSN  2197-4225

  　View Summary

  Robot skin is essential for achieving physical human-robot interaction. In particular, a warm feeling with a soft tactile impression is necessary for a human-friendly robot design. Contact sensing for safe interaction is also important; however, adding sensors to the skin surface can compromise its soft, smooth feel and create uncomfortable tactile sensations for humans. The paper proposes the design of a fluid-based soft robot skin that can simultaneously give thermal stimulation and detect human contact. We tested a prototype of the robotic skin, confirming that the fluid-based control successfully enabled both thermal display and contact detection capabilities.

  • Access to Document (DOI)

• Stiffness Control of Thermally Driven Actuator Using Phase Transition

  Haruki Saito, Yukiko Osawa

  Proceedings of the IEEE World Haptics Conference 2025 (IEEE)   2025

  Research paper (international conference proceedings), Last author, Corresponding author, Accepted

  　View Summary

  This paper proposes a method for controlling the stiffness of a thermally driven actuator by leveraging the phase transition of a low-boiling-point liquid. Using a Peltier device for cooling, the reduction in actuator stiffness can be precisely adjusted.
  Experiments demonstrated the actuator's effectiveness, particularly in handling fragile objects with precision, ensuring delicate interactions with contact surfaces. Since stiffness is adjusted within a safe temperature range, this approach shows promise for applications involving direct human contact, such as the outer surfaces of social robots (robot skin).

• Fluid-Based Contact Detection and Thermal Display

  Daisuke Shionoiri and Yukiko Osawa

  Proceedings of the JEME 8th International Conference on Advanced Mechatronics (JSME)   2024.11

  Research paper (international conference proceedings), Last author, Corresponding author, Accepted

  　View Summary

  Soft robot skin is one of the key factors for physical human-robot interaction (pHRI), and many studies have proposed various kinds of robot skin. In particular, two functionalities, the ability to convey warmth to humans and to detect contact, are significant among the roles of robot skins. The former is known to create comfort and a positive impression of robots and help build trust in them. The latter enables more personalized human support.
  However, temperature feedback and contact detection require sensors on the skin's surface; this can disturb the heat conduction from the skin surface and soft, smooth tactile feelings. This paper proposes a system design for fluid-based soft robot skin, simultaneously enabling contact detection and temperature control without attaching a sensor to the skin surface. We developed a skin prototype based on the proposed design and conducted experiments to verify its capabilities.

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Papers, etc., Registered in KOARA 【 Display / hide 】

Papers, etc., Registered in KOARA 【 Display / hide 】

• 空間情報に基づく熱伝導システムのモデリングと制御

  Ōsawa, Yukiko

  (慶應義塾大学大学院理工学研究科)  2018

• Peltier electronics for controlling thermal sensation

  Osawa, Yukiko

  科学研究費補助金研究成果報告書 2016

Reviews, Commentaries, etc. 【 Display / hide 】

Reviews, Commentaries, etc. 【 Display / hide 】

• Tips to Strengthen Collaboration with Researchers

  OSAWA(AKIYAMA) Yukiko

  The Journal of The Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan (The Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan)  143 ( 6 ) 349 - 352 2023.06

  ISSN  1340-5551

  　View Summary

  1．はじめに
  
  「2年間，南フランスのモンペリエで研究していました。綺麗なところでした。ご飯も美味しかったです。」フランス留学について問われると大抵はこのような表面的な話で終わるが，私にとってフランスで過ごした2年間は人生の転機であり，とても本稿で語り尽くすことはできない。学部4

  • Access to Document (DOI)
  • CiNii Research

• Robotic Finger with Thermal Perception for Material Classification in Various Contact Pressure, Time, and Temperature Difference

  Osawa Yukiko, Furukawa Yoshiyuki, Domae Yukiyasu

  Journal of the Robotics Society of Japan (The Robotics Society of Japan)  41st ( 8 ) 797 - 800 2023

  ISSN  02891824

  　View Summary

  <p>Thermal-based material identification has the advantage of distinguishing materials' thermal properties, which is one of the essential roles of recognizing contact objects. However, the thermal responses are sensitive to contact conditions, being affected not only by material properties but also by the initial temperature, contact surface, contact force, etc. The paper investigates the effect of contact force, time, and temperature differences on material classification by an assumption derived from a physical model and various kinds of experiments. The obtained knowledge might be useful for high-accuracy material classification based on thermal sensing. </p>

  • Access to Document (DOI)
  • CiNii Research

• Cooperative Transportation Considering Mechanical Coupling of Multi-robots System (メカトロニクス制御研究会・実世界ハプティクス)

  Masumura Kousei, Kurumatani Hiroki, Nishimura Satoshi, Osawa Yukiko, Katsura Seiichiro

  電気学会研究会資料. MEC = The papers of Technical Meeting on "Mechatronics Control", IEE Japan (電気学会)  2016 ( 2 ) 85 - 90 2016.09

  • CiNii Research

• Spatial Heat-Flow Estimation Utilizing Thermal Propagation (メカトロニクス制御研究会・実世界ハプティクス)

  Osawa Yukiko, Katsura Seiichiro

  電気学会研究会資料. MEC = The papers of Technical Meeting on "Mechatronics Control", IEE Japan (電気学会)  2016 ( 2 ) 67 - 72 2016.09

  • CiNii Research

• Kinesthetic and Thermal Sensation Presentation Using Multilateral Control under Time Delay

  西村 聡史, 大澤 友紀子, 車谷 大揮, 長津 裕己, 三浦 一将, 桂 誠一郎

  電気学会研究会資料. MEC = The papers of Technical Meeting on "Mechatronics Control", IEE Japan (電気学会)  2016 ( 2 ) 55 - 60 2016.09

  • CiNii Research

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Research Projects of Competitive Funds, etc. 【 Display / hide 】

Research Projects of Competitive Funds, etc. 【 Display / hide 】

• 熱駆動ロボットスキンによる人とロボットの双方向熱コミュニケーションの創生

  2025.04

  -

  2029.03

  Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research, 大澤 友紀子, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B), Principal investigator

  　View Summary

  本研究課題は、熱制御の観点から人とロボットとの双方向のやりとりを実現するヒューマンインタフェース技術を確立し、触れ合いによって創生されるロボットとの新しいコミュニケーションの在り方を見出すことを目的としている。系全体での熱循環を基盤とした、人への最適な触覚刺激や精度の高い認識を実現する、人とロボット双方において好ましい制御システムの設計方法について明らかにする。

• 人間と機械の安全な触れ合いを実現する熱変色センサの開発

  2025.04

  -

  2026.03

  立石科学技術振興財団 研究助成(A), Research grant, Principal investigator

• Recognition and Control Technology Utilizing Robot Self-Heating for Human Robot Interaction

  2023.04

  -

  2026.03

  日本学術振興会, Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists, Yukiko Osawa, Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists, Principal investigator

  　View Summary

  本研究では廃熱を人・機械協調のための付加的な機能として有効活用すべく、機械内部の熱源から外部表面への効率的な熱輸送システムを開発し、廃熱を温度制御・接触対象物の認識に用いた新しい熱マネジメント手法を検討する。効率的な熱輸送を実現するための制御システムの構築について、ハードウェア（デバイス開発）・ソフトウェア（制御アルゴリズム）の双方について取り組む。技術の発展と環境問題の解決を両立した従来の熱対策手法を革新させる基盤技術として、幅広い場面での活用が期待できる。

• A study on temperature-independent material recognition using soft robotic cover embedded in temperature control system

  2021.08

  -

  2023.03

  Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up, Yukiko Osawa, Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up, Principal investigator

  　View Summary

  In this research project, a recognition system for contact objects was developed to improve the accuracy of thermal-based material recognition. We investigated approaches that actively utilize heat from both hardware and software perspectives, including developing a temperature-controllable machine (robot) cover and recognition algorithms for contact objects using a time-series temperature database. By adjusting the temperature of the robot gripper according to the temperature of the object, it is possible to prevent deterioration in recognition accuracy due to environmental changes, which was a conventional problem. Furthermore, high-precision classification through machine learning based on temperature information has been achieved for materials with significantly different thermal properties, such as metal and wood, and metals that are difficult to classify using vision and tactile sensors.

• Development of Robot Covers Considering Softness, Pleasantness and Thermal Touch Properties for Promoting Human-Robot Interaction

  2019.04

  -

  2021.03

  JSPS Overseas Research Fellow, No Setting

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Awards 【 Display / hide 】

Awards 【 Display / hide 】

• Ando Incentive Prize for the Study of Electronics

  大澤 友紀子, 2025.06, The Foundation of Ando Laboratory

  Type of Award： Award from publisher, newspaper, foundation, etc.

• IEEJ Industry Applications Society Quick Paper Review Promotion Award

  Yukiko Osawa, 2024.09, The Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan (IEEJ)

  Type of Award： Honored in official journal of a scientific society, scientific journal

• The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers (JSME) ROBOMECH 2023 Certificate of Merit for Best Demonstration

  2024.05

  Type of Award： Award from Japanese society, conference, symposium, etc.

• SII2024 Best Paper Award Finalist

  Yukiko Osawa, Quan Khanh Luu, Linh Viet Nguyen, Van Anh Ho, 2024.01, The 2024 IEEE/SICE International Symposium on System Integrations (SII 2024)

• SICE International Young Authors Award (SIYA-SII2022)

  Yukiko Osawa, 2022.01, IEEE/SICE International Symposium on System Integration (SII 2022)

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Other 【 Display / hide 】

Other 【 Display / hide 】

• 2025年06月

  　View Details

  Daisuke Shionoiri (supervised student), The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers, Young Fellow Award

Courses Taught 【 Display / hide 】

Courses Taught 【 Display / hide 】

• APPLIED PHYSICS AND PHYSICO-INFORMATIC PRACTICAL RESEARCH C

  2026

• LABORATORY IN SCIENCE

  2026

• GRADUATE RESEARCH ON MATHEMATICAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES 1

  2026

• INDEPENDENT STUDY ON FUNDAMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

  2026

• APPLIED PHYSICS AND PHYSICO-INFORMATIC PRACTICAL RESEARCH A

  2026

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Courses Previously Taught 【 Display / hide 】

Courses Previously Taught 【 Display / hide 】

• DOCTORAL RESEARCH ON MATHEMATICAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES

  Keio University

  2026.04

  -

  2027.03

• GRADUATE RESEARCH ON MATHEMATICAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES 2

  Keio University

  2026.04

  -

  2027.03

• GRADUATE RESEARCH ON MATHEMATICAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES 1

  Keio University

  2026.04

  -

  2027.03

• LABORATORY IN SCIENCE

  Keio University

  2025.04

  -

  2026.03

• APPLIED PHYSICS AND PHYSICO-INFORMATICS LABORATORY D

  Keio University

  2025.04

  -

  2026.03

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Memberships in Academic Societies 【 Display / hide 】

Memberships in Academic Societies 【 Display / hide 】

• The Robotics Society of Japan (RSJ), 

  2023.02

  -

  Present

• IEEE, 

  2014.12

  -

  Present

• The Society of Instrument and Control Engineers (SICE), 

  2021.12

  -

  Present

• The Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan (IEEJ), 

  2014.12

  -

  Present

Committee Experiences 【 Display / hide 】

Committee Experiences 【 Display / hide 】

• 2026.01

  -

  2027.12

  Committee on utilizing data and controlling for Industry Applications, The institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan (IEEJ)

• 2025.04

  -

  2027.03

  会誌編集委員, The Robotics Society of Japan

• 2024.04

  -

  2026.03

  論文査読小委員会, The Robotics Society of Japan

• 2023.06

  -

  2024.05

  Committee on utilizing data and controlling for Industry Applications, The institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan (IEEJ)

• 2023.04

  -

  2025.03

  Editorial Committee on Industry Applications Society, The institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan (IEEJ)