Yasunari KAKIGI
Papers
6
Total Citations
39
H-Index
4
About
Yasunari Kakigi is a robotics researcher dedicated to developing autonomous mobile robots that can operate reliably in challenging, real-world environments. His work centers on three key areas: outdoor navigation under adverse weather, safe and socially acceptable robot design, and locomotion over uneven terrain. Kakigi’s most impactful contribution is his progress toward autonomous garbage collection robots, a practical application aimed at alleviating labor shortages in aging societies like Japan. His 2020 paper on this topic has garnered 14 citations, the highest among his works. He is also a key participant in the Real World Robot Challenge (RWRC), a demanding annual competition where robots must autonomously navigate a 1 km path and detect specific persons. His robot, “SARA,” successfully completed the RWRC in 2014, demonstrating robust navigation in rain using LIDAR—a significant technical feat, as raindrops can severely degrade sensor performance. Beyond functionality, Kakigi addresses human-robot interaction, designing flexible, cowl-covered robots that prioritize safety and aesthetic appeal to avoid frightening people in public spaces. His bio-inspired research on salamander legs further extends his work to search-and-rescue robots capable of traversing uneven terrain after natural disasters.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 6Bio-inspired salamander robot leg design for uneven terrains2 citations · 2020