Haptics Research Center

Center Director: Toshiyuki Murakami (Professor, Faculty of Science and Technology)

Campus: Shin-Kawasaki Town Campus (K2)

This research center aims to apply the academic achievements of haptic technology and promote its widespread use in the medical and industrial sectors. It supports the multifaceted development of haptic technology through research and development of this key technology, as well as through medical-engineering and industry-academia collaboration. As the center's purpose is R&D and infrastructure establishment for the medical and industrial sectors, it is essential that its outcomes are actively used in diverse fields. Furthermore, to dramatically improve on-site capabilities in medical and manufacturing settings, a mechanism is indispensable for ensuring a long-term, stable supply of the technology and its continuous growth in collaboration with companies. This research center will achieve these objectives by serving as a hub for industrial and medical-engineering collaboration.

Haptic technology, medical-engineering collaboration, human-assistive motion, multifaceted development of haptics technology

■ Activities Continuing from the Previous Fiscal Year: Background, Rationale, and Goals

We will begin supplying haptics modules to consortium companies and continue to make improvements to ensure they are easy to use. We will also focus on the development of welfare equipment.

■ New Activity Goals and Content for AY2017, and Background for Implementation

We will newly expand into the agricultural sector and start the development of a General Purpose Machine (GPM).

■ Implementation Details for the Fiscal Year's Business Plan, Research Results, and Degree of Achievement

In AY2017, we continued our activities to promote the haptic module (ABC Core), the key to force feedback technology completed in AY2016, and worked toward further development for practical applications. As a result, significant progress was made in areas such as production technology and medical applications. The research results were disseminated through numerous papers and introductory articles. We also participated in various events to promote and raise awareness of this technology.

We created an Intellectual Property Charter and basic agreements under the guidance of the Office for Research Coordination and Administration (Intellectual Property Section) at Mita, which are shared among the consortium. We also participated in many events under the center's name and focused on activities to disseminate the technology.