Manabu KAGATANI
Papers
2
Total Citations
14
H-Index
2
About
Manabu Kagatani is a robotics researcher whose work centers on cooperative robotic systems and multi-robot manipulation, with a particular focus on enabling position-controlled industrial robots to work in concert. His most influential contribution, published in 2002 and accumulating 11 citations, introduced an innovative approach to multi-robot object handling by incorporating free joint mechanisms that provide mechanical compliance, effectively preventing the excessive internal forces that typically arise when multiple position-controlled robots collaborate on a shared task. This elegant solution allowed standard position controllers to be used without modification, making cooperative manipulation more accessible for industrial applications. Building on this foundation, Kagatani extended his research to three-robot cooperative systems, addressing the complex challenge of singular configurations in passive joint mechanisms — a critical practical concern when scaling multi-robot coordination to real-world industrial settings. His 2008 work demonstrated a fully functional system using three commercial industrial robots capable of handling large objects cooperatively. Through these contributions, Kagatani has helped bridge the gap between theoretical multi-robot cooperation and practical industrial deployment, offering solutions that leverage existing robotic infrastructure rather than requiring specialized force-controlled hardware.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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