Hisashi Igawa

Hokkaido Research Organization, Hokkaido University

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Hisashi Igawa’s research bridges the worlds of robotic manipulation and agricultural automation, with a particular focus on developing intelligent systems for challenging outdoor environments. His most cited work, “A regrasp planning component for object reorientation” (2018, 40 citations), addresses a fundamental problem in robotic dexterity—how a robot can efficiently change its grip on an object to complete a task. This contribution has implications for manufacturing, logistics, and service robotics, where flexible object handling is critical. Alongside this, Igawa has made notable strides in precision agriculture, specifically designing weeding robots for the vast vineyards of Hokkaido, Japan. In papers such as “Visual and tactual recognition of trunk of grape for weeding robot in vineyards” (2009, 9 citations) and “Base position detection of grape stem considering its displacement for weeding robot in vineyards” (2012, 5 citations), he developed stereo camera systems and multi-link manipulators capable of recognizing grape trunks and stems despite displacement and variable field conditions. These innovations aim to alleviate the labor-intensive task of weed eradication, offering a scalable solution for large-scale viticulture. Igawa’s work exemplifies how core robotics research—like regrasp planning—can be directly applied to solve real-world agricultural challenges, making him a key figure in the intersection of manipulation and field robotics.