Next-Generation Actuators Leading Breakthroughs

Toshiro Higuchi is a professor at the Department of Precision Machinery Engineering at the University of Tokyo, Japan. His research interests include mechatronics; magnetic bearings; electrostatic actuators; MEMS; robotics; and manufacturing. Koichi Suzumori has been a professor at Okayama University, Japan, since 2001. He received his doctoral degree from Yokohama National University, and worked for Toshiba R&D Center and Micromachine Centre, Tokyo, before taking up his current position. Satoshi Tadokoro currently works for the Graduate School of Information Sciences at Tohoku University, Japan. His areas of research include intelligent mechanics/mechanical systems; perception information processing/intelligent robotics and; design engineering and machine functional elements/tribology.

Next-Generation Actuators.- Surface Acoustic Wave Motor Modeling and Motion Control.- AZARASHI (Seal) Mechanism for Meso/Micro/Nano Manipulators.- Disturbance Observer Design Based on Frequency Domain.- Development of High-Speed Actuator for Scanning Probe Microscopy.- PZT Driven Micro XY Stage.- Precise Position Stages Using Pneumatically Driven Bellows Actuator and Cylinder Equipped with Air Bearings.- Development of a New Nano-Micro Solid Processing Technology Based on a LIGA Process and Next-Generation Microactuators.- New Microactuators Using Functional Floods.- Two-Axial Piezoelectric Actuator and Its Motion Control Toward Development of a Tactile Display.- High-Performance Electrostatic Micromirrors.- Non-Contact On-Chip Manipulation of 3-D Microtools and Its Applications.- Shape Memory Piezoelectric Actuator and Various Memories in Ferroelectric Materials.- Design and Fabrication of Micro Pump for Functional Fluid Power Actuation System.- Intellignet Actuators for Mechatronics with Multi-Degrees of Freedom. - Actuation of Long Flexible Cables Using Ciliary Vibration Drive.- Micro Cilium Actuators in Group.- Novel Thin-Type High-Speed Ultrasonic Motors and Gyro-Moment Motors.- Biochemical Pump with Enzymatic Reaction.- Domain Wall Engineering in Lead-Free Piezoelectric Materials and Their Enhanced Piezoelectricities. IPMC Actuator.- Pneumatic Rubber Artificial Muscles and Application to Welfare Robotics.- Dynamic Characteristics of Ultrasonic Motors.- Actuator with Multi Degrees of Freedom.- Segment-Structured Diamond-Like Carbon Films Application to Friction Drive of Surface Acoustic Wave Linear Motor.- Mechanism of Electroactive Polymer Actuator.- Development of a Polymer Actuator Utilizing Ion-Gel as Electrolyte.- Compact MR Fluid Actuator for Human Friendly System.- Development of Actuator Utilizing Hydrogen Storage Alloys.- Development of New Actuators for Special Environment.- Applications of Electrostatic Actuators within Special Environments.- Micro Actuator System for Narrow Spaces Under Specific Environment.- Development of Ultrasonic Micro Motor with a Coil Type Stator.- Self-Running Non-Contact Ultrasonically Levitated Stage.- Development of Shape Memory Actuator for Cryogenic Application.- Actuators for Special Environments.