Koichi TANIHARA

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Koichi Tanihara is a pioneering researcher in agricultural robotics, with a primary focus on the development of intelligent harvesting systems for tomato clusters. His major contributions lie in the design of specialized end-effectors and manipulator control strategies that address the unique challenges of harvesting delicate, occluded fruit clusters. Tanihara’s foundational 2007 work proposed an end-effector and control method capable of detecting and cutting peduncles even when obscured by leaves and fruit, a critical advancement for automated harvesting. His 2009 study further advanced the field by developing a path planning and control algorithm that balances high-speed transportation with vibration damping, ensuring that harvested tomato clusters are moved quickly yet gently into collection bins. Though his citation counts (17 and 7 for his most-cited papers) reflect a specialized niche, his work has been instrumental in laying the groundwork for practical, efficient agricultural robots. Tanihara’s research directly addresses the real-world constraints of speed, precision, and crop protection, making him a notable figure in the engineering of robotic solutions for horticulture.