Y Kawaguchi

Osaka Gas (Japan), The University of Tokyo

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Y Kawaguchi is a robotics researcher whose work focuses on the design and control of specialized mobile robots, particularly for confined and unconventional environments. Their most cited paper, "An Efficient Algorithm of Path Planning for an Internal Gas Pipe Inspection Robot" (2005, 3 citations), addresses a critical challenge in industrial maintenance: ensuring complete coverage of complex pipe networks for autonomous inspection. This work proposes a path planning algorithm that enables a robot to systematically traverse all pipes to detect injuries and scratches, contributing to the efficiency and reliability of infrastructure monitoring. In a second notable study, "1-DOF spherical mobile robot that can generate two motions" (2010, 2 citations), Kawaguchi demonstrates innovative minimalist design by developing a spherical robot capable of both translational and rotational motion using only a single motor. By attaching vinyl strips at regular intervals and switching driving modes, this design achieves remarkable simplicity and versatility. Although their citation counts are modest, Kawaguchi’s contributions highlight a practical, problem-solving approach to robotics, with potential applications in hazardous or hard-to-reach environments. Their work is particularly valuable for students and researchers interested in path planning, inspection robotics, and minimalist mechanical design.