Keiichi Yanagase

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Keiichi Yanagase is a pioneering roboticist whose work pushes the boundaries of planetary exploration through unconventional, rocket-propelled locomotion. His primary research focuses on developing miniature, lightweight robots capable of traversing extreme and inaccessible terrains—such as craters, cliffs, and ravines—where traditional wheeled rovers fail. Yanagase’s major contribution is the conceptualization and engineering of the “Jumping Scouter” and “Shooting Scouter,” rocket-powered robots that achieve extraordinary travel distances independent of surface conditions. For instance, his Jumping Scouter theoretically covers 43 kilometers using only 98 grams of black powder, all within a 290-gram vehicle mass—a feat that redefines efficiency in planetary mobility. His work addresses critical challenges in flight distance control, particularly the sensitivity to center-of-gravity errors, demonstrating rigorous analysis of flight dynamics. While his citation counts (2–3 per paper) reflect a niche but emerging field, the boldness of his designs has captured attention in astrobiology and extreme-terrain robotics communities. Yanagase’s research offers a compelling alternative to conventional rovers, promising to unlock new vistas for future space missions.