Matsuno Lab

Fumitoshi MATSUNO Professor, Dr. Eng. 1986 Dr. Eng. : Osaka University 1986-1991 Research Associate : Osaka University (Department of Control Engineering) 1991-1992 Lecturer : Kobe University (Department of Systems Engineering) 1992-1996 Associate Professor : Kobe University (Department of Computer and Systems Engineering) 1996-2003 Associate Professor : Tokyo Institute of Technology (Department of Computational Intelligence and Systems Science) 2003- Professor : The University of Electro-Communications (Department of Mechanical Engineering and Intelligent Systems) Research fields : Robotics, Space engineering, Control engineering, Geographic information systems Distributed parameter systems, Nonholonomic systems Rescue activity support systems Rescue robot

■ Introduction of Research

In our laboratory we focus on analysis and understanding of this woderful nature and its wonderful manifestations in living as well as inanimate creations. Keywords of our research are "Control", "Space", "Robotics" and "Cooperation between man and machines". We analyze dynamics of mechanichal systems in space and study space exploration systems. Humans can accomplish very high level of expertise through learning. We analyze the knowledge acquisition process of human and other animats and based on these analysis and understandings we try to develop artificial systems which tend to mimic skills of natural intelligence. Many disasters like earthquake, flood , radioactive contamination etc., happen at different parts of the world every year causing immense loss of lives and infrastructures. One of our major focus is to develop disaster management and rescue activity support systems with specific interests on rescue oriented robotic systems and the geographic information system (GIS). We are working on the development of a new GIS architechture which can treat spatio-temporal information flexibly and is effective in normal as well as in emergency situations.

■ Recent Research Topics

Mathematical and physical analysis of wonderful skill of human, animals and living things

Realization of the wonderful skill by machanical systems

Analysis of dynamics of mechanical systems in the space, and modeling and control of space robots and large space structures

Developement of living things robots (lizard like and snake like robots)

Development of a new GIS architechture which can treat spatio-temporal information flexibly

Intelligent navigation of autonomous robots based on image processing system and GIS

Developement of rescue activity support systems and rescue robots which can be utilized effectively in the real disasters

■ Introduction of Laboratory

Our educational aims are to foster flexible and challenging researchers who can have theoretical understanding, practical viewpoints, and can establish and develop new research directions. We presently have one research associate, two posdoc researchers, two Ph.D. students and five master students, and five undergraguate students. Students from various coutries and various departments of different universities have joined our laboratory and combining their knowledge and efforts to achieve various research goals. We promote interactions between various laboratories and encourage discussions with researchers of multidicsiplinary academic backgrounds. We believe inquisitiveness beyond the boundaries of departments and specializations is the basic ingradient of Creativity.