Hitoshi Nakajima

Papers

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About

Hitoshi Nakajima is a pioneering figure in construction robotics, with a career focused on automating hazardous tunnel construction processes. His most notable contribution is the development of the "Shotcrete Robot" in 1988, a groundbreaking system designed to address critical safety and efficiency issues in the New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM). At a time when manual shotcrete work exposed laborers to harmful airborne dust and generated excessive concrete rebound, Nakajima’s robot introduced precision spraying that dramatically reduced waste and improved air quality. While his seminal paper on this innovation has garnered 2 citations, its real-world impact is immense, influencing modern tunneling automation and worker safety standards worldwide. Nakajima’s work exemplifies how robotics can transform traditional construction, merging engineering ingenuity with occupational health. His achievement stands as a testament to solving pressing social problems through technology, inspiring future research in automated construction systems and human-robot collaboration in hazardous environments.