Yasuyuki YAMADA
Tokyo Denki University, Chuo University, Hosei University, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Papers
53
Total Citations
716
H-Index
15
About
Yasuyuki Yamada is a leading roboticist whose work is defined by bio-inspired locomotion, particularly the peristaltic crawling of earthworms, applied to critical infrastructure inspection and planetary exploration. His most influential contribution is the development of a series of peristaltic crawling robots designed to navigate narrow, complex, and hazardous environments. His seminal 2002 paper on an internal pipe inspection robot, with 101 citations, introduced a dual magnetic wheel mechanism that overcame the limitations of turning in T-shaped pipes. This work laid the foundation for a prolific career focused on solving real-world challenges. Yamada’s robots have been engineered to inspect aging sewer pipes over distances exceeding 100 meters, clean residential ventilation ducts, and even drill into the seafloor for mineral sampling. His 2019 underwater drilling robot, cited 67 times, and his lunar subsurface explorer concept demonstrate the versatility of his earthworm-inspired mechanisms. Beyond inspection, he has contributed to human-assistive technology, proposing a variable viscoelastic joint system for exoskeletons. With over 400 total citations across his most-cited works, Yamada’s research uniquely bridges fundamental biomechanics and practical, deployable robotics, making him a key figure in the field of field and service robotics.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Internal pipe inspection robot101 citations · 2002
- 2Development of Underwater Drilling Robot Based on Earthworm Locomotion67 citations · 2019
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- 5Variable viscoelastic joint system and its application to exoskeleton28 citations · 2017
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- 8Curved excavation by a sub-seafloor excavation robot24 citations · 2017
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