Mamoru Nagai
Papers
6
Total Citations
52
H-Index
3
About
Mamoru Nagai is a pioneering roboticist specializing in bio-inspired locomotion and extreme-environment excavation. His research focuses on developing peristaltic crawling robots—machines that mimic earthworm movement—for sub-seafloor and lunar-subsurface exploration. Nagai’s major contribution is the design of flexible excavation and propulsion units that enable these robots to burrow, steer, and curve through dense sediment. His most-cited work, "Curved excavation by a sub-seafloor excavation robot" (2017, 24 citations), demonstrates a breakthrough in steering underground, overcoming a key limitation of straight-line drilling. He also developed hydraulic artificial muscles for deep-sea applications, allowing robots to operate under high pressure without conventional motors. Across his papers, Nagai’s robots have achieved excavation depths of nearly one meter, with potential applications in mineral sampling, marine geology, and planetary science. His work bridges robotics, biomechanics, and field engineering, offering practical solutions for accessing resources and scientific samples in inaccessible environments. For students and researchers, Nagai’s research exemplifies how nature-inspired design can solve real-world challenges in ocean and space exploration.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Curved excavation by a sub-seafloor excavation robot24 citations · 2017
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- 4DEVELOPMENT OF A FLEXIBLE PROPULSION UNIT FOR A SEABED EXCAVATION ROBOT3 citations · 2017
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- 6Development of seabed excavation robot with peristaltic crawling2 citations · 2015