We are conducting research on wireless power transmission, which transfers electric power without the use of conductive wires by utilizing microwaves or magnetic fields. Our studies explore various applications, including power supply for flying objects, power relay systems for robots operating in disaster areas, and practical implementations in homes, transportation systems, and other environments. In addition, we are investigating energy harvesting, a technology that captures small amounts of unused energy from the surrounding environment and converts it into electricity — in particular, focusing on power generation from radio waves. Furthermore, we conduct simulation-based studies on superconducting devices with microstructures to analyze their operation and establish design guidelines for their performance and optimization.

At Ohara Laboratory (Robot System Design Laboratory), we aim to introduce robots into environments where they can coexist with humans. Our primary focus is on the development of middleware technologies that serve as platforms to accelerate robot system integration. To further advance system integration, we are also engaged in the development of robot hardware with new concepts and vision systems, along with a wide range of research projects that apply these technologies.

In this study, we found that even slight variations—such as the presence of unfavorable materials or structures within about one millimeter beneath the surface of human skin—can cause modulation in the detected signals. From a broader perspective, the same principle applies not only to humans but also to vehicles. Recently, we have received increasing requests from material manufacturers who wish to measure the hardness or softness of materials without any physical contact. Our research therefore extends beyond the field of medical engineering, adopting a multifaceted approach to advance the practical application of tomographic visualization and diagnostic devices across a wide range of disciplines.

Our laboratory possesses core technologies for autonomous robot control based on visual information, including self-localization using Visual SLAM in indoor environments, posture and grasp control of dual-arm mobile manipulators, and autonomous flight control of drones. Building upon these foundational technologies, we aim to develop a cyber-physical system in which humans and robots are seamlessly connected through Mixed Reality (MR) technology. In this system, users can intuitively operate robots through gesture-based interaction, while robots dynamically coordinate with one another to perform complex tasks—realizing an extension of human and robotic embodiment within an integrated virtual and physical environment.

In our laboratory, we design, develop, and control intelligent systems through control and information processing technologies. Students not only learn the fundamental methods required to realize the intelligence of robots and machines, but also explore new control approaches and system architectures to create more advanced intelligent systems. Our research topics include vehicle dynamics and control, environmental perception for autonomous driving, and information transmission from driving environments to humans. Students independently establish their research objectives, plans, and methods based on their own investigations, and pursue their goals through continuous problem-solving. Through this process, they develop into engineers capable of applying their creativity and technical expertise to real-world system design and manufacturing.