Ryusuke Mitobe
Assistant Professor | Master of Engineering
Field of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Applied MEMS Research Group, Graduate School of Engineering
The fields of electrical and electronic engineering have played a major role in Japan's development. Although my own research has been grounded in mechanical engineering, I draw on that perspective while placing importance on learning and thinking together with students about the fundamentals and applications of electrical and electronic engineering.
My research focuses on developing sensor devices based on MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems: microscopic electromechanical structures). I believe this research offers the creative satisfaction of discussing an idea, building an actual device, and seeing the idea take shape.
Next-Generation Sensing Using MEMS Tactile Sensors and Nonlinear Systems
What students can learn
Through the design, fabrication, and evaluation of microscale sensor devices using MEMS technology, students can study electrical and electronic engineering, mechanical engineering, materials engineering, and information processing in an interdisciplinary manner. In particular, microfabrication processes provide knowledge of semiconductor manufacturing equipment and hands-on experience in operating it.
Inspired by human tactile receptors, we are developing MEMS tactile sensors that acquire tactile information such as contact force, slip, hardness, and vibration.
In particular, by combining microscopic MEMS structures integrating piezoelectric materials and strain gauges with analog circuits, we aim to realize "information-processing tactile sensors" in which the sensor itself temporally transforms, stores, and separates contact information. Such sensors are expected to be applied to next-generation systems that safely touch and work with people and objects, including robot hands, artificial skin, medical and assistive devices, and wearable devices.
By incorporating nonlinear MEMS systems and the concept of physical reservoir computing, we also aim to extend this work beyond tactile sensors to low-power, low-latency next-generation sensing technologies that process information by harnessing the physical responses of the devices themselves.
