Masahiro Iwahashi

Nagaoka University, Nagaoka University of Technology

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Masahiro Iwahashi is a robotics researcher whose work centers on robot vision networks, video data compression for robotic communication, and automated inspection systems. His major contributions include pioneering a ceiling map sharing system that enables mobile robots to navigate indoor environments by generating maps from upward-facing cameras, allowing following robots to estimate their locations even when debris obstructs the floor. This work, cited 6 times, laid groundwork for collaborative robot localization. Iwahashi also advanced on-site photovoltaic module inspection by prototyping a robotic crawler that uses magnetic flux sensors to trace interconnector lines and detect disconnection failures in crystalline silicon solar panels, achieving 5 citations for its practical application in real PV arrays. Additionally, he proposed functionally layered video coding based on JP2K to minimize data transmission in robot vision networks, extracting only essential information for robot-to-robot communication. His research addresses the critical challenge of efficient video compression for both robots and humans, challenging conventional algorithms like JPEG and MPEG that prioritize human visual perception. Iwahashi’s work bridges robotics, computer vision, and renewable energy inspection, demonstrating tangible impact in autonomous systems and industrial maintenance.