Katsushi Minamino

Papers

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About

Katsushi Minamino is a pioneering researcher in the field of non-contact handling and micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), with a primary focus on the design and characterization of advanced contactless grippers. His major contribution lies in the development of innovative grippers that utilize arrayed spiral air flows to achieve stable, vibration-free levitation of fragile objects. This work directly addresses a critical challenge in automated manufacturing: the need to handle delicate items like silicon wafers and solar panels without physical contact, which can cause damage or contamination. Minamino’s most-cited paper, "Design and characterization of high-performance contactless gripper using spiral air flows" (2010), has garnered 8 citations and lays the foundation for his approach by demonstrating how MEMS technology can mitigate flow-induced vibrations. He further scaled this concept in his 2011 work, "5-inch-size contactless gripper using arrayed spiral air flows," which has 2 citations and showcases a practical, larger-scale application for robot end-effectors. Though his citation counts are modest, Minamino’s work is notable for its novel integration of fluid dynamics and MEMS, offering a promising path toward more reliable and gentle robotic handling systems.