Tetsuya Ogata is a Professor at the Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Fundamental Science and Engineering at Waseda University. He also holds joint appointments as a Fellow at the Artificial Intelligence Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), and as a visiting professor at the National Institute of Informatics (NII). Professor Ogata serves as director of the Institute of AI and Robotics at Waseda University, chairperson of the AI Robot Association (AIRoA), and research supervisor of JST CREST "Fundamentals and Core Technologies for Embodied AI" since 2025. Professor Ogata received his B.S., M.S., and D.E. degrees in mechanical engineering from Waseda University in 1993, 1995, and 2000, respectively. He began his academic career as a Research Associate at Waseda University (1999-2001), followed by positions as a Research Scientist at RIKEN Brain Science Institute (2001-2003), Lecturer (2003-2005) and Associate Professor (2005-2012) at Kyoto University's Graduate School of Informatics, before becoming a Professor at Waseda University in 2012. He was also a JST PRESTO Researcher from 2009 to 2015. Professor Ogata's research focuses on cognitive developmental robotics, deep predictive learning, and the integration of vision, language, and action (VLA) for human-robot interaction. His work explores how robots can learn through experience and interaction with humans and environments, developing models that allow for flexible behavior generation and adaptation. His research has significant implications for creating robots that can understand human intentions, collaborate effectively in real-world settings, and continuously learn from their experiences. The integration of multimodal information processing with predictive models forms the core of his approach to embodied artificial intelligence. Analysis of Professor Ogata's recent publications reveals a strong focus on deep predictive learning frameworks that enable robots to anticipate future states and generate appropriate actions. His research spans multiple domains including soft object manipulation, bimanual coordination, transparent object grasping, and integration of large language models with robotic systems. A notable trend is the increasing emphasis on multimodal integration, combining visual, tactile, and linguistic information to create more robust and adaptable robotic systems. His recent work also shows growing interest in the application of foundation models to robotics, aiming to create more general-purpose robotic capabilities. Best Paper Award, Advanced Robotics, The Robotics Society of Japan (2024) Best paper award Nomination Finalist, IEEE/SICE International Symposium on System Integration (2024) Frontiers of Science Awards, The International Congress for Basic Science (2023) Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award (2023) Fellow, Japan Society of Mechanical Engineering (2023) Fellow, The Society of Instrument and Control Engineers (2022) Fellow, The Robotics Society of Japan (2022) IBM Academic Awards (2017) Professor Ogata has been instrumental in establishing collaborative research frameworks between academia and industry, serving in leadership roles for multiple professional organizations including the Robotics Society of Japan, Japanese Society for Artificial Intelligence, and Japan Deep Learning Association. His research has been supported by significant grants including JST CREST funding for "Fundamentals and Core Technologies for Embodied AI." He has mentored numerous researchers who have gone on to contribute to the field of robotics and AI, with many of his former students now holding positions in leading academic and industrial research institutions. Professor Ogata directs the Ogata Laboratory at Waseda University, which focuses on cognitive developmental robotics and deep predictive learning. The lab maintains strong collaborations with industry partners including major robotics companies and technology firms. In 2025, he played a key role in establishing the AI Robot Association (AIRoA), which brings together companies like Toyota, Nissan, and KDDI to advance the development of practical AI robotics technologies. His research group is known for its interdisciplinary approach, combining insights from neuroscience, cognitive science, and engineering to create more human-like robotic capabilities.
