Kazuo Yamafuji
University of Electro-Communications, Hellenic Petroleum (Greece)
Papers
41
Total Citations
301
H-Index
10
About
Kazuo Yamafuji is a pioneering robotics researcher whose work spans mobile robot design, dynamic stability control, and biomechanically inspired robotic systems. Over his prolific career, he made foundational contributions to omnidirectional locomotion, most notably through his development of the spherical-wheeled "all-direction steering" mobile robot — his most cited work with 59 citations — which demonstrated unprecedented freedom of movement through innovative wheel and motion-control mechanisms. Yamafuji's early investigations into inverted pendulum dynamics and unicycle stability laid critical theoretical groundwork for self-balancing robotic platforms, reflecting his deep interest in replicating complex human and animal motion. This biomimetic curiosity extended to remarkable studies on falling cat postural recovery and a kangaroo-inspired jumping robot, illustrating his imaginative approach to locomotion challenges. His later research into wearable nursing robots and self-impedance matching demonstrated a meaningful pivot toward human-assistive technology. Yamafuji also contributed to the history of industrial robotics through his work on SCARA robot development. With cumulative citations across diverse robotic domains, his legacy represents a uniquely creative synthesis of control theory, mechanical design, and biologically inspired engineering that continues to inform modern robotics research.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Design and Control of an All-Direction Steering Type Mobile Robot59 citations · 1993
- 2Design and simulation of control systems of an inverted pendulum23 citations · 1988
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- 8Development and Motion Control of the Robot which Jumps and Moves About.11 citations · 1991
- 9Development of SCARA Robots10 citations · 2019
- 10