Mariko Inazawa
Papers
4
Total Citations
48
H-Index
3
About
Mariko Inazawa is a pioneering roboticist whose work bridges the gap between bio-inspired locomotion and extraterrestrial exploration. Her primary research focuses on snake robot motion design for navigating complex, confined environments, and autonomous control systems for planetary rovers. Inazawa’s most impactful contribution is a unified motion design method enabling snake robots to traverse intricate pipe structures—negotiating obstacles like junctions, bends, diameter changes, and blockages. Her 2021 paper on this approach has garnered 27 citations, while her 2020 foundational work on constant-diameter pipes has earned 16 citations, establishing her as a leader in pipe-inspection robotics. She has also made notable strides in space robotics, contributing to JAXA’s SLIM mission with the autonomous control of the transformable nano rover LEV-2, and designing the PORTRS ISS Demo Mission—a mobile manipulator for crew support tasks like inspection and cargo handling. Inazawa’s work exemplifies how nature-inspired design and autonomous systems can solve real-world challenges, from industrial maintenance to lunar exploration, inspiring future engineers to push the boundaries of robotic mobility.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 3Autonomous Control of Lunar Excursion Vehicle 2 (LEV-2)3 citations · 2024
- 4