Actuators, Sensors, and Robots Inspired by Living Organisms

Participant Profile

Takashi Maeno

Takashi Maeno

Takashi Maeno (Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering)

In our Biorobotics Laboratory, we are conducting research on "actuators (motors), sensors, and robots inspired by living organisms." For example, we are researching ultrasonic motors inspired by the movement of flexible, slender organisms. Earthworms move using a backward-propagating longitudinal wave, cabbage worms use a forward-propagating bending wave, and inchworms use a standing bending wave. Unlike conventional electromagnetic motors, ultrasonic motors that mimic these movement patterns achieve quiet and powerful drive. We are also researching the sense of touch. Our diverse research on this topic ranges from investigating the question, "What are human fingerprints for?" to developing tactile sensors for robots. These sensors, which have human-like fingerprints, can distinguish between "smooth" and "rough" surfaces and lift objects of unknown weight without crushing them. Furthermore, we are researching evolving robots. Through natural selection, living organisms have acquired ingenious structures and behaviors adapted to their environment. Inspired by this, we are researching walking robots that can autonomously acquire their own body shape and movement patterns. We are also conducting research on a five-fingered master-slave robot hand. A master-slave robot is a type of remote-controlled robot. In the five-fingered master-slave robot we are developing, when an operator wears the master hand and moves their own hand, the slave robot hand at a remote location performs the same dexterous and delicate movements. This device makes it possible to dexterously and realistically handle objects in environments that humans could not previously touch, such as extreme environments like space and nuclear reactors, as well as medical, micro, and virtual environments. As described above, we are engaged in creating new things inspired by living organisms to innovate the human living environment.