Our goal is to create an optimal social environment by generating artificial lifes as software agents on a computer and modeling the real problems of society with the concept of artificial life. Specifically, we model the constituent systems of the target problems (organisms, humans, etc.) as software agents, evolve each agent according to the environment, and reflect the behavior of the agent in the environment. By repeating this process and converging to a stable environment, we can evaluate the behavioral rules of the agents and the environment that has been formed.

Main Research Topics

• Autonomous robot patrol system using drones
• Simulation of evacuation behavior using software agents
• Development of a porter-agent system

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The Internet of Things (IoT) is a key technology of the advanced information society of the 21st century. In IoT, not only individual human being, but also all kinds of things are connected to the Internet, enabling communication "anytime, anywhere, with anyone, and with any kind of information". Wireless communication, including cell phones and wireless LANs, is an indispensable technology for the realization of the IoT. However, the quality of ultra-high speed communication is significantly degraded due to the poor propagation environment of the communication channels for mobile and cellular communications and wireless LAN. On the other hand, ad-hoc/multi-hop wireless is a field that is expected to develop greatly in the future, as it can be used to build a network flexibly, quickly, and easily through autonomous distributed control of wireless terminals, and is useful for securing communication means between vehicles, temporarily, in emergencies, and in military situations. In this laboratory, we are conducting research in the fields of mobile communication, wireless LAN, and ad-hoc/multi-hop wireless networks, with a particular focus on communication systems and methods, with the aim of contributing to the realization of an IoT society.

Main Research Topics

• Research on next-generation high-performance multi-hop wireless networks
• Research on adaptive OFDM transmission systems
• Application of neural networks to digital wireless communications
• Research on advanced mobile wireless networks using ad hoc MIMO communication methods
• Development of a porter-agent system

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Biomedical sensors to detect various human health markers from a small droplet of blood are developed. We have been studied FET-type biosensors to detect glucose, urea and creatinine by enzyme. Figure 1 shows the glucose detection characteristic of the glucose sensor based on an enzyme-modified extended-gate FET. The sensor was able to detect reversibly and repeatedly the glucose concentration in phosphate buffered solution with a considerably low Michaelis constant of ~0.05 mg/mL for more than a month. These results indicate that the sensor enables to detect repeatedly such low glucose concentrations as those in urine, sweat and saliva. Due to the fast response time and a wide detection range of the glucose concentration as shown in Fig. 2, our sensors are promising for the application to next-generation health care chips.

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The modeling is the key technology for analysis, estimation, control and diagnosis of systems. Systems Control Laboratory works on developing methods and algorithms for modeling. Especially, system identification is the central keyword for our laboratory. System identification is methodology to model a system using data sampled from the system to be modeled. Our laboratory has developed a closed-loop state-space subspace identification method, and applied it to practical systems, e.g., feedback control of radio-controlled miniature helicopters, quadrotor drones, cart-inverted pendulum systems, and so on. As a spin-off of system identification, our laboratory has developed online fault detection algorithms for early warning systems.

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Recently, wireless communication services have been widely developed and our lifestyle becomes very convenient. On the other hand, the systems are becoming more complex. As a result, wireless communication services are not always “kindness” for users, as the number of types of wireless services is increasing. Goals of our laboratory is to establish “user-oriented” wireless communication network which the communication network and terminals have intelligence and automatically construct a better communication environment for the user by reflecting the user's environment and intentions. In this laboratory, we are researching various theme in related fields to realize such a network.

Main Research Topics

• Research on bi-directional highly precise positioning estimation system utilizing heterogeneous wireless
• Research on WiFi security key generations using multipath transmission spectrum on RoF distribution antenna system
• Research on atmospheric turbulence on free space optics using 2 micro-meter LD
• Research on RoFSO-MIMO transmission
• Development of smart disaster prevention system using painless-mesh network

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Our laboratory has been engaged in two broad and connected areas of research that relate to human surroundings: “bio-inspired robotics” and “rescue robotics.” Living creatures have survived and been optimized by natural selection. An understanding of the functions of living things is very useful in creating new artificial robots. In our lab, we are interested in analyzing the beautiful skills and behaviors of living things, and we are trying to find solutions to the following questions, among others: Why can living snakes move without legs? Why do quadrupeds change their gait patterns (for example, walk, trot, gallop) depending on their speed of movement? What is the mechanism of the flocking behaviors of birds and fish? How can small ants build a big anthill? Why can human beings walk with two legs? Based on our understanding of these phenomena, we can apply our knowledge to create robots to solve industrial and social problems.
Our goal is to create robots which are beyond living things based on the understanding of the functions of living things.

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Human beings have various senses, and these senses play an important role in human-to-human communication. In order to support communication using computers and the Internet, it is important to express and convey information using not only sight but also hearing and touch. We are conducting research to make human communication more convenient and safe by applying network, image processing, stereophonic, and virtual reality technologies.

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Our research aim is to construct nanosystems such as FET devices and biosensing systems by applied materials with the various functions and properties. We are investigating the materials properties that lead to innovative device functions. Especially, nanofabrication techniques and precise thin-film formation methods are our emphasis. We have developed unique technologies to fabricate organic semiconductor nanowires and molecular superlattice structures.

Main Research Topics

• Investigation of the growth mechanism of organic semiconductor nanowires
• Sensing device applications using oxide semiconductor thin films
• Sensing device applications using graphene and atomically thin films
• Analysis of polymer materials utilizing terahertz spectroscopy

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We develop novel manipulation, measurement, and analysis methods based on various interactions between light and matter in nano to micrometer scale.

Main Research Topics

• Fabrication of functional nanomaterials by laser ablation
• Development of new methodologies to evaluate physical property in microdomain by combining laser and microscopy techniques

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Main Research Topics

• Efficient and replacement of electromagnetic simulation using AI
• Inverse analysis of critical current density in superconducting devices using machine learning
• Visualization and quantification of magnetic fields using AI and magneto-optical effects

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With the development of technologies using electromagnetic waves (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, wireless power transmission, etc.), electromagnetic interference (EMI) unintentionally generated from electronic devices can cause malfunctions in other electronic devices, and interference between electromagnetic waves can cause communication problems in wireless communications. In this laboratory, we are working on elucidating the mechanisms of these problems, developing countermeasure methods, designing RF circuits to make effective use of electromagnetic waves, and developing applied technologies using electromagnetic waves.

Main Research Topics

• RF characteristics of communication wire harnesses
• PI/SI/EMC co-design methods for electronic devices
• Energy harvesting using radio waves

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