Kenta Shigematsu

Institute of Agricultural Machinery, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization

Papers

Total Citations

372

H-Index

About

Kenta Shigematsu is a pioneering figure in agricultural robotics, with a primary focus on automating the harvesting of delicate fruits, particularly strawberries. His most significant contribution is the development and field validation of a strawberry-harvesting robot designed for table-top culture greenhouses. This system integrates a 3-DOF manipulator, a specialized end-effector, a machine vision system, and a traveling device to identify and pick ripe fruit without causing damage. His landmark 2009 paper, "Evaluation of a strawberry-harvesting robot in a field test," has garnered 342 citations, underscoring its foundational impact on the field of precision agriculture. Earlier in his career, Shigematsu also contributed to the automation of grafting processes for cucurbitaceous vegetables, as detailed in his 2006 study on seedling feeding. By translating complex robotic mechanisms into practical, field-tested solutions, Shigematsu has directly addressed critical labor shortages in horticulture, paving the way for more efficient and sustainable farming practices. His work remains essential reading for researchers in agricultural automation and soft robotics.