About

Naoki Shirakura’s research lies at the critical intersection of marine robotics and human–robot collaboration, with a focus on developing practical systems for environmental conservation. His most impactful work addresses the urgent problem of marine debris, where he has pioneered semi-autonomous collection systems that jointly deploy UAVs and UUVs. This innovative approach, detailed in his 2021 paper (19 citations), offers a more efficient alternative to manual cleanup by ships or divers. To make these systems accessible, Shirakura also developed a GUI for simple operation, lowering the barrier for real-world deployment. Beyond marine applications, his research extends to the fundamental challenges of human–robot interaction, including an early study on eye-tracking interfaces for remote-controlled robots (2006, 5 citations). His most cited work, a comprehensive 2023 review on difficulty and complexity definitions for assembly task allocation in human–robot collaborations (40 citations), has become a key reference for researchers designing efficient and safe collaborative systems. Through these contributions, Shirakura has established himself as a leading voice in applying robotic systems to pressing environmental problems while advancing the foundational principles of human–robot teamwork.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

5
H-Index
5
Papers
78
Total Citations
16
Avg Citations/Paper
🏆 Most Cited Paper
Difficulty and complexity definitions for assembly task allocation and assignment in human–robot collaborations: A review
40 citations · 2023
📈 Most Prolific Year: 2021 (2 Papers)
🤝 Key Collaborators: 11
🏛 Institutions: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Meiji University

Top Papers

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Key Collaborators

Contact & Links

Available for collaboration
Content generated · 13 days ago