Yoky Matsuoka
Encyclopedia
Yoky Matsuoka is an associate professor of Computer Science
and Engineering at the University of Washington
(U.W.), director of that university's Neurobotics Laboratory, director of the Center for Sensorimotor Neural Engineering and a 2007 MacArthur Fellow
. Her research combines neuroscience
and robotics
--sometimes referred to by Matsuoka by the portmanteau "neurobotics"--to create more realistic prosthetics.
An example of her work is a lifelike robotic hand, modeled bone-by-bone from a human hand, with multiple motors each corresponding to muscle
s and with strings playing the role of tendon
s along each digit. Her intent is that nervous system
signals will ultimately be able to control the electronic replica in the same manner as a natural appendage. To this end, her work uses such means as measuring the electric current along each muscle in the hand as a person reaches for and grasps an object and having patients do virtual reality
exercises with an oversized arm so that errors are more apparent. Matthew O'Donnell, dean of the U.W. College of Engineering characterizes her as "a mechanical engineer, neuroscientist, bioengineer, robotics expert and computer scientist, all in one… [with] …the ability to see what is possible by combining all these disciplines." The MacArthur Foundation characterizes her work as "transforming our understanding of how the central nervous system
coordinates musculoskeletal action and of how robotic technology can enhance the mobility of people with manipulation disabilities.
but grew up in California
. In her youth, she was a "very good" tennis
player, (once ranked 21st in Japan) but was eventually sidelined by injuries; her interest in robotics began with the idea of a robotic tennis player, which she later decided was unrealistic.
She received her B.S. degree in 1993 from the University of California, Berkeley
and an M.S. (1995) and Ph.D. (1998) in electrical engineering and computer science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
. She was also chief engineer at Barrett Technology in 1995 and 1996 where she developed the microcode for the BarrettHand. From 2001 to 2006 she was an assistant professor at Carnegie Mellon University
(CMU), where, from 2004, she held the Anna Loomis McCandless Faculty Chair. Before her MacArthur, she received a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (2004) and an IEEE Early Career Award in Robotics and Automation (2005).
As of 2007, she has three children, the youngest a son born in September 2007, with twin daughters approximately two-and-a-half years older.
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
and Engineering at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
(U.W.), director of that university's Neurobotics Laboratory, director of the Center for Sensorimotor Neural Engineering and a 2007 MacArthur Fellow
MacArthur Fellows Program
The MacArthur Fellows Program or MacArthur Fellowship is an award given by the John D. and Catherine T...
. Her research combines neuroscience
Neuroscience
Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system. Traditionally, neuroscience has been seen as a branch of biology. However, it is currently an interdisciplinary science that collaborates with other fields such as chemistry, computer science, engineering, linguistics, mathematics,...
and robotics
Robotics
Robotics is the branch of technology that deals with the design, construction, operation, structural disposition, manufacture and application of robots...
--sometimes referred to by Matsuoka by the portmanteau "neurobotics"--to create more realistic prosthetics.
An example of her work is a lifelike robotic hand, modeled bone-by-bone from a human hand, with multiple motors each corresponding to muscle
Muscle
Muscle is a contractile tissue of animals and is derived from the mesodermal layer of embryonic germ cells. Muscle cells contain contractile filaments that move past each other and change the size of the cell. They are classified as skeletal, cardiac, or smooth muscles. Their function is to...
s and with strings playing the role of tendon
Tendon
A tendon is a tough band of fibrous connective tissue that usually connects muscle to bone and is capable of withstanding tension. Tendons are similar to ligaments and fasciae as they are all made of collagen except that ligaments join one bone to another bone, and fasciae connect muscles to other...
s along each digit. Her intent is that nervous system
Nervous system
The nervous system is an organ system containing a network of specialized cells called neurons that coordinate the actions of an animal and transmit signals between different parts of its body. In most animals the nervous system consists of two parts, central and peripheral. The central nervous...
signals will ultimately be able to control the electronic replica in the same manner as a natural appendage. To this end, her work uses such means as measuring the electric current along each muscle in the hand as a person reaches for and grasps an object and having patients do virtual reality
Virtual reality
Virtual reality , also known as virtuality, is a term that applies to computer-simulated environments that can simulate physical presence in places in the real world, as well as in imaginary worlds...
exercises with an oversized arm so that errors are more apparent. Matthew O'Donnell, dean of the U.W. College of Engineering characterizes her as "a mechanical engineer, neuroscientist, bioengineer, robotics expert and computer scientist, all in one… [with] …the ability to see what is possible by combining all these disciplines." The MacArthur Foundation characterizes her work as "transforming our understanding of how the central nervous system
Central nervous system
The central nervous system is the part of the nervous system that integrates the information that it receives from, and coordinates the activity of, all parts of the bodies of bilaterian animals—that is, all multicellular animals except sponges and radially symmetric animals such as jellyfish...
coordinates musculoskeletal action and of how robotic technology can enhance the mobility of people with manipulation disabilities.
Life
Matsuoka was born in JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
but grew up in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. In her youth, she was a "very good" tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
player, (once ranked 21st in Japan) but was eventually sidelined by injuries; her interest in robotics began with the idea of a robotic tennis player, which she later decided was unrealistic.
She received her B.S. degree in 1993 from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
and an M.S. (1995) and Ph.D. (1998) in electrical engineering and computer science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
. She was also chief engineer at Barrett Technology in 1995 and 1996 where she developed the microcode for the BarrettHand. From 2001 to 2006 she was an assistant professor at Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
(CMU), where, from 2004, she held the Anna Loomis McCandless Faculty Chair. Before her MacArthur, she received a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (2004) and an IEEE Early Career Award in Robotics and Automation (2005).
As of 2007, she has three children, the youngest a son born in September 2007, with twin daughters approximately two-and-a-half years older.
External links
- Official page at the University of Washington
- Microsoft ResearchMicrosoft ResearchMicrosoft Research is the research division of Microsoft created in 1991 for developing various computer science ideas and integrating them into Microsoft products. It currently employs Turing Award winners C.A.R. Hoare, Butler Lampson, and Charles P...
, Understanding Human Movements to Enhance HCI Environments, Research Channel, September 29, 2005, 1:18:20 video about Matsuoka - Neurobotics Laboratory, archived site of her Neurobiotics Laboratory at CMU.
- UW Neurobotics Laboratory, active site for UW Neurobotics Laboratory
- Neuralengineering Center, nascent Pacific Northwest research collaboration center
- Yoky Matsuoka on the site of the MacArthur Foundation.