Koki KIKUCHI

About

Koki Kikuchi is a prolific robotics researcher whose work spans an impressively broad spectrum of robotic systems, from wearable assistive devices to autonomous mobile platforms and bio-inspired locomotion. Perhaps his most influential contribution is the development of the "Muscle Suit," a wearable muscular support apparatus utilizing McKibben pneumatic actuators sewn directly into garment fabric, eliminating cumbersome metal frames and offering genuine promise for individuals with paralysis or mobility impairments — a paper that has garnered 65 citations since 2002. His research portfolio extends into mobile robotics, including innovative floor-cleaning robots employing Swedish and omni-directional wheels (30 and 14 citations respectively), and a wheel-based stair-climbing robot with a hopping mechanism (42 citations). Kikuchi has also made notable advances in wall-climbing robotics, exploring both suction-based and claw-based hexapod designs suited to miniaturized scales. His curiosity extends further into flapping-wing micro-robotics and evolutionary computation for morphological design. Collectively, his diverse body of work reflects a consistent dedication to expanding the physical capabilities of robots across challenging real-world environments, making him a significant contributor to applied and bio-inspired robotics.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   New Robot Technology Concept Applicable to Human Physical Support - The Concept and Possibility of the Muscle Suit (Wearable Muscular Support Apparatus) -

   65 citations · 2002
2. 2
   A study on a wheel-based stair-climbing robot with a hopping mechanism

   42 citations · 2008
3. 3
   Development of a small flapping robot

   32 citations · 2008
4. 4
   A floor cleaning robot using Swedish wheels

   30 citations · 2007
5. 5
   Development of a Small Legged Wall Climbing Robot with Passive Suction Cups

   27 citations · 2014
6. 6
   Suction Ability Analyses of a Novel Wall Climbing Robot

   25 citations · 2006
7. 7
   DEVELOPMENT OF cm-SCALE WALL CLIMBING HEXAPOD ROBOT WITH CLAWS

   20 citations · 2014
8. 8
   Study of a face robot platform as a kansei medium

   17 citations · 2002
9. 9
   Evolutionary Design of Morphology and Intelligence in Robotic System Using Genetic Programming

   15 citations · 1998
10. 10
    Floor‐cleaning robot using omni‐directional wheels

    14 citations · 2009

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links