Masaki Minobe

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Masaki Minobe is a robotics researcher whose work centers on the development of vision systems for search and rescue operations in disaster environments. His primary research areas include robotic vision, 3D information gathering, and cooperative multi-robot systems. Minobe’s most notable contribution is his pioneering work on a compound eye camera system designed for searching through rubble, a project aimed at creating mobile platforms that can collect panoramic images and three-dimensional data to locate human bodies and assess structural conditions in collapsed buildings. This system is engineered not only for autonomous data collection and delivery but also for seamless cooperation with other robots, enhancing the efficiency of disaster response teams. While his foundational 2005 paper on this system has garnered 2 citations, its impact lies in its forward-looking approach to integrating vision, mobility, and inter-robot communication—a concept that has influenced subsequent developments in field robotics. Minobe’s work represents a critical step toward practical, life-saving technologies for urban search and rescue, demonstrating how robotic vision can be adapted to the most challenging and chaotic environments.