Dr. Shuichi Wakimoto

Assistant Professor, Okayama University, Japan

He received his Doctor of Engineering degree in 2007. From 2004 to 2007, during his

doctor course studentship, he was an active research fellow of Japan Society for the

Promotion of Science. Since 2007 till now he is an assistant professor at Okayama

University. His current research interests are soft actuators and their applications.

These researches are supported by Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and

Technology, Japan.

Abstract: Soft Mechanical System

When the term “Mechanical System” is mentioned, immediately we will visualize a

robot, an automobile, an airplane and many others. Generally, mechanical system is

configured with many rigid parts. These conventional mechanical systems having

numerous rigid parts strongly support industrial activities and our daily life.

On the other hand, currently there are increasing needs for mechanical systems to

handle fragile objects in medical, biological, agriculture fields and so on. These

mechanisms must ensure “high safety”, since their contacts with human being,

biological tissue, fruits, etc are direct and physical. Therefore safety from controlling is

insufficient, hence it must be realized from “hardware”.

Presently, we have developed “Soft Mechanical Systems”, consisting only soft materials.

Evidently, these systems can ensure true safety mechanically without the need for

special controls. However, focus has to be on “Soft Actuator”, which is the most

important element of dynamic mechanical systems and due to its nonlinear property

material, it is the most difficult element to realize. Our research group had developed

some novel soft actuators using nonlinear finite element method and has applied them

to mechanical systems.

In my coming lecture, I will mainly speak about and show our novel soft actuators

developed by our research team, including design method, fabrication process and their

motions. To ensure better understanding of our work, some of the soft actuator

applications will be also explained. Additionally, I will also introduce our laboratory

where many interesting researches on actuators were and are currently conducted, not

only limited to soft actuators but also expands to several other kinds of actuators and

their applications.

Awards:

• • Presentation Encouraging Award from Machine Design & Tribology Division of the

  • Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers in 2005

  • Dean Award from Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama

  • University in 2007

  • Excellent Presentation Award from System Integration Division of the Society of

  • Instrument and Control Engineers in 2008