Tatsuya Sato

Western Region Agricultural Research Center

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Tatsuya Sato is a robotics researcher specializing in agricultural and slope maintenance automation, with a focus on developing compact, safe, and efficient mowing solutions for hazardous terrain. His key research areas include field robotics, autonomous navigation, and human-robot collaboration for steep slope environments. Sato’s major contribution is the design and evaluation of a novel guided small mowing robot for steep slopes, addressing the dangerous and physically demanding task of manual grass cutting on inclines. He developed both a towed-type mower, which uses a reel for position adjustment and manual towing, and a guided-type robot equipped with a dedicated motor for autonomous movement. Through motion analysis, Sato compared the net work rate of his prototypes against commercial slope mowers, demonstrating the guided robot’s superior operational efficiency. His work has garnered attention for its practical impact on worker safety and productivity, with his most-cited paper receiving 1 citation to date. Sato’s research represents a significant step toward reducing human risk in agricultural and infrastructure maintenance, paving the way for more accessible robotic solutions in challenging environments.