Yutaka Kikuchi

National Agriculture and Food Research Organization

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Yutaka Kikuchi’s research bridges two seemingly distinct fields—agricultural robotics and neurorehabilitation—united by a commitment to improving human safety and quality of life. His most influential work, “A Robot System for Paddy Field Farming in Japan” (2013, 33 citations), established foundational designs for autonomous agricultural machinery, addressing labor shortages in rice farming. This contribution led to his later focus on safety assurance, culminating in “Risk Analysis, Safety Assurance Requirements, and Safety Evaluation Test for Robotic Agricultural Machinery” (2024), which provides critical frameworks for certifying autonomous farm equipment—a key step toward widespread adoption. In parallel, Kikuchi explores rehabilitation for spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA), emphasizing how motor learning deficits and balance instability disrupt daily life. His 2021 paper on SCA rehabilitation highlights the need for targeted therapies to restore function and social participation. While his citation counts are modest, Kikuchi’s dual-track work demonstrates a rare ability to apply engineering rigor to both agricultural automation and clinical care, making him a notable figure in safety-critical robotics and patient-centered rehabilitation.