Papers
20
Total Citations
664
H-Index
12
About
Shigeru Kokaji is a pioneering robotics researcher whose career has been defined by sustained contributions to self-reconfigurable modular robotics — systems capable of dynamically altering their own physical structure to adapt to different tasks and environments. He is perhaps best known as a key architect of the M-TRAN series of modular robots, with M-TRAN III (2008) standing as his most influential work, accumulating over 270 citations. This prototype introduced a fast, rigid connection mechanism paired with distributed control strategies enabling both synchronous and asynchronous reconfiguration across robot modules. Earlier in his career, Kokaji explored miniaturization through shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators, producing a series of micro-scale self-reconfigurable systems around 2000–2001 that demonstrated novel two-dimensional rotational motion in compact, identical modules. His 2002 work on reconfiguration planning further bridged the gap between theoretical locomotion strategies and real-world hardware validation. Across multiple publications, Kokaji has also advanced distributed communication and motion planning frameworks for modular systems, reflecting a holistic approach to autonomous robotics. With a body of work spanning hardware design, control theory, and planning algorithms, his research has significantly shaped the landscape of adaptive robotic systems.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Distributed Self-Reconfiguration of M-TRAN III Modular Robotic System271 citations · 2008
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- 3Micro Self-reconfigurable Robotic System using Shape Memory Alloy54 citations · 2000
- 4Micro Self-reconfigurable Modular Robot Using Shape Memory Alloy40 citations · 2001
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- 7Concept of self-reconfigurable modular robotic system22 citations · 2001
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- 10Motion Planning for a Self-Reconfigurable Modular Robot20 citations · 2007