Arata Ejiri

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Arata Ejiri is a pioneering researcher in autonomous space robotics, with a focused career dedicated to advancing the safe and reliable capture of satellites in orbit. His key research area centers on the development of intelligent, autonomous control systems for space robots, specifically designed to perform the high-stakes task of satellite berthing—a maneuver too dangerous and complex for manual operation. Ejiri’s major contribution is the creation of the Advanced Space Robot Testbed with Redundant Arms (ASTRA). Through this platform, he demonstrated the first successful autonomous berthing of a moving, rotating mockup satellite, proving that robots could handle the dynamic challenges of orbital rendezvous. His foundational 1998 paper (4 citations) laid the groundwork for this technology, while his seminal 2002 work (19 citations) provided a detailed experimental validation of the ASTRA system. Though his citation counts are modest, Ejiri’s work is notable for its practical, experimental rigor, directly addressing a critical bottleneck in on-orbit servicing. His research remains a cornerstone for engineers developing the next generation of autonomous space manipulators.