Fumihito Arai, Ph.D.
Professor, Nagoya University
arai@mech.nagoya-u.ac.jp
Biography:
Fumihito Arai is a Professor of Department of Micro-Nano Mechanical Science & Engineering at Nagoya University, Japan. He also serves as a Deputy Director of Institute of Nano-Life-Systems at Nagoya University. He received Master of Engineering degree from Tokyo Univ. of Science in 1988. He received Dr. of Engineering from Nagoya University in 1993. Since 1994, he was Assistant Professor of Nagoya University. Since 2005, he was Professor of Tohoku University. Since 2010, he has been Professor of Nagoya University. He was the Vice-President for Technical Activities, IEEE Nanotechnology Council (2002, 2003). He was AdCom Member of IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS) (2009-2011, 2012-2014), and he serves as AdCom Member of RAS again since 2019. He was the Vice President for Technical Activities, IEEE RAS (2014-2015, 2016-2017). He was Editor in Chief of Advanced Robotics (2012-2017). His research fields are Micro-nano Robotics and Bio-Robotics. He received 88 awards on his research activities, for example, Early Academic Career Award in Robotics and Automation from IEEE Robotics and Automation Society in 2000, Best Conference Paper Award at ICRA2012. He is the author of 402 journal papers.
Topic title: Bridging Organ and Machine - Organo-machine for patient simulation
Abstract: Design selected by nature is based on evolution and we can get an idea how to design the artificial systems (machines). There are a lot of different kinds of system design inspired by nature. Recently, bionic design approach for the system is introduced to improve performance of the system as well as to add new functions to the system. However, the gap between the living things and machines is still large. To overcome the limitation of the conventional artificial systems, there are a lot of trials to integrate biological elements such as cells, tissues, organs with the artificial systems to mimic the function of living things, such as sensing, actuation, processing with high accuracy with low energy consumption, metabolism, and so on. Ograno-machine is the artificial organic system having functions mimicking living things and is synthesized by integrating organs and artificial systems (machines). To realize organo-machines, bridging the organic elements and mechanical systems is quite challenging, and a lot of emerging technologies are needed, such as micro-nano mechatronics.
In this talk, we will discuss on the issues and some basic technologies to realize the organo-machines. As an example of the organo-machines, an artificial patient simulator is considered. We have developed Bionic Humanoid, which is an elaborate human model equipped with sensors and actuators to serve as a substitute for and test animals. Bionic Humanoid uses artificial materials to precisely recreate the structure of the human and to mimic physical property of the human. As one of the future directions of Bionic Humanoid, we considered to incorporate the concept of organo-machines to mimic physiological property. In this talk, we will discuss on the future direction of artificial patient simulator.
