Noriyuki Kawarazaki

About

Noriyuki Kawarazaki is a pioneering robotics researcher whose work spans human-robot interaction, in-pipe inspection, and multifingered manipulation. His most influential contribution is the development of a human-following mobile robot system using a laser range scanner (2015, 35 citations), which introduced a novel algorithm for detecting a person’s shins to enable safe, autonomous following—a foundational technology for service and assistive robotics. Earlier, Kawarazaki made significant strides in confined-space robotics with his in-pipe locomotion robot (1991, 20 citations), capable of navigating 50 mm diameter pipelines, and later extended this to vertical and complex pipe networks (1997, 7 citations). He also advanced dexterous manipulation through a grasp planning algorithm for multifingered hand-arm robots in cluttered environments (2002, 11 citations). His work on the “HAKUEN” communication robot system (2010–2011) integrated image processing, voice recognition, and handshaking actions to create natural human-robot interaction. With over 95 total citations across his top papers, Kawarazaki’s research has directly influenced mobile service robots, pipeline inspection technologies, and socially interactive robotic systems, demonstrating a sustained impact on both industrial and human-centered robotics.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Development of Human Following Mobile Robot System Using Laser Range Scanner

   35 citations · 2015
2. 2
   Development of in-pipe locomotion robot

   20 citations · 1991
3. 3
   7 Cooperative Welfare Robot System Using Hand Gesture Instructions

   13 citations · 2006
4. 4
   Grasp planning algorithm for a multifingered hand-arm robot

   11 citations · 2002
5. 5
   Development of In-pipe Inspection Robot for Small Radius Pipelines.

   7 citations · 1997
6. 6
   Communication Robot Based on Image Processing and Voice Recognition

   4 citations · 2011
7. 7
   Communication robot system based on the handshaking action

   3 citations · 2010
8. 8
   Communication Robot based on the Image Processing and Voice Recognition

   2 citations · 2010

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links