News
Research
Engineering Bio-inspired Robots: Sensing the World through Robust and Flexible Motion.
The core focus of our laboratory lies in “intelligent behaviors emerging from mechanical softness.” Currently, 99% of existing robots are constructed from rigid materials, with physical deformation concentrated solely at the joints. In contrast, living organisms are built from three-dimensionally soft materials, including muscles, tendons, and skin tissues. These soft-bodied organisms—such as primitive creatures like jellyfish and starfish—can control an almost infinite number of degrees of freedom using extremely minimal, decentralized nervous systems. Furthermore, primitive unicellular organisms like true slime mold (Physarum polycephalum) and amoebae generate adaptive behaviors that we recognize as quintessentially “lifelike” without the use of any neurons at all. At the Bio-Intelligent Design and Robotics Laboratory, we view this “mechanical softness” as the fundamental distinction between machines and living organisms. Our mission is to investigate the unique forms of intelligence that can only be realized through such mechanical flexibility.
Recruitment
The Unified Morpho Engineering Laboratory welcomes individuals who are eager to leverage diverse methods and materials flexibly to create innovative solutions and tackle real-world social challenges.