Masaki Noda (D2), Department of Mechanical Engineering, received JSME Best Presentation Award for Young Researchers

On 26th April, Masaki Noda (D2), Department of Mechanical Engineering, recieved The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers Kanto Branch, Best Presentation Award for Young Researcher.

The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers Kanto Branch, Best Presentation Award for Young Researcher

This award is presented by the Kanto Branch of the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers (JSME) to a young researcher who has given an excellent presentation at the annual meeting of the Kanto Branch for the purpose of contributing to the development of human resources.

About awarded research

Topology optimization is breaking new ground in engineering and design. This method combines physical equations with mathematical optimization to derive the optimal structure for a particular goal. And now its application is extending to soft robot design. In this study, we propose a simple model for designing musculoskeletal robots using topology optimization. This model simulates artificial muscles whose contraction force changes with time and represents a distinct approach from conventional design methods. Furthermore, based on this model, we introduced a design sensitivity called topological derivatives, which we used to optimize the structure. This approach resulted in a reasonable and effective optimal solution for the design of mechanisms that generate elliptical orbits. This achievement opens new avenues for future research and development in the field of soft robotics.

Keywords: Topology optimization, Topological derivatives, Musculoskeletal robot, Control optimization, Multi-material topology optimization, Extended level set method

Noda, M., Yamada, T., Optimization of linearly approximated musculoskeletal robots targeting elliptical trajectory generation based on topological derivative, The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers Kanto Branch, The 30th General Meeting and Conference, The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2024 March 13-14th, Waseda University, No. 14G24.

Your impression & future plan

I feel that this award is a recognition of the innovation of topology optimization and its potential for application to soft robotics. In the future, we will continue our efforts to apply our technology to even more complex robotic structures and to make practical use of the technology. Without being satisfied with this achievement, we will continue to strive for sustained technological innovation and contribution to society.