Mission Statement
Paving the way for the future of practical robots:
We aim to develop advanced robot system technologies inspired by humans and to make them useful in our daily lives. In particular, our research on humanoid robots, four-legged walking robots, lightweight robot arms, and rough-terrain rovers that utilize hydraulic servo technology has been highly praised both in Japan and overseas.
In the 21st century, the barrier to introducing sensor-rich remote control systems has been lowered thanks to the extremely rapid spread of sensors and IoT technology. We will not miss this opportunity and will continue our research while making the most of the advantages of our technology in order to realize what is truly needed. The knowledge and technology commonly applied to the numerous robots created in our laboratory are:
- Motion control theory that utilizes the principles of mechanics in multi-joint structures
- Modeling, optimization, and simulation technology that utilizes real data
- Real-time control systems that make full use of microcomputers and networks
- Flexible actuator technology that is compact and powerful, yet can freely manipulate force like a human
What is the best drive means for robots?
Actuators are the "core" of real robots and machines. Fluid power (hydraulics and pneumatics) that was at its peak until the 1970s has been mostly replaced by electric drive. Attempts are being made to introduce robots from factories to homes, and to outdoor fields such as agriculture, civil engineering and construction, and disaster response, but will only electric robots be used here? I don't think that's the case. If that were the case, hydraulic excavators and the like would have been electrified a long time ago. It is unthinkable that a simple technology that anyone can easily understand would disappear from the world. We remember that hydraulics is merely a transmission, hence it can take advantage of efficiency of electric drive.
That being said, even automobiles and airplanes, where hydraulics were used, are now in the midst of a major trend toward electrification, and the number of hydraulic engineers at manufacturers is steadily decreasing. So, at a university where we do not take the risk of failure, we would like to focus on exploring the possibilities of fluid power drive technology. There is an appeal to our laboratory that never ceases to attract us. That is "separation of the drive source and the actuator." This is the "unparalleled feat" that fluid power technology has compared to electric technology. The performance of the humanoid robot created by our laboratory students demonstrates this.
Robotics Challenge in the Anthropocene:
We conduct research with the support of many domestic companies, and have been continuously conducting joint research for practical application. Based on these achievements, we will continue to explore new robotics technologies that can help solve problems that have become increasingly serious in recent years, such as environmental destruction, food shortages, natural disasters, housing shortages, aging, and population shifts, including completely harmless hydraulic robot arms, reconfigurable hydraulic modular robots, and retrofitting of used machinery, and will develop research and education through hypothesis testing.
Research and education are two sides of the same coin. When you go down a path that is different from the majority of the world, you may feel anxious at first, but if you think logically with a firm purpose and make constant efforts to take one step at a time, you will be able to open up a path. As long as you don't give up, failure will turn into an opportunity. I strongly want to share our experience of growth through challenges with students.
January 7, 2025
Sang-Ho Hyon
2025/01/08