Kazunori Nagano
Papers
4
Total Citations
41
H-Index
3
About
Kazunori Nagano is a leading figure in underwater robotics, specializing in the development of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) for deep-sea exploration and resource surveying. His primary research focuses on intelligent navigation, multimodal robotic systems, and the application of computer vision for seafloor observation. Nagano’s major contributions include the design of the hovering-type AUV "Tuna-Sand 2," which can cruise at low altitudes to capture high-resolution seafloor images and autonomously detect sea creatures using color-based image processing. His most cited work (19 citations) details this platform’s integration with two visual tracking systems, demonstrating robust performance using only onboard sensors. In a landmark multiyear project, Nagano led a survey of cobalt-rich manganese crust (Mn-crust) deposits using a team of two AUVs and one remotely operated vehicle, combining camera systems, multibeam sonar, and subbottom sensors to achieve detailed resource distribution estimates (10 citations). His 2023 study further enhanced survey efficiency by showing that multibeam sonar covers four times the area of visual systems, significantly improving coverage. Nagano’s work has advanced autonomous, human-aware robot navigation and set new standards for cost-effective, large-scale deep-sea resource assessment.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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