Past Research Projects
in Higuchi & Yamamoto Lab.
(This pape is kept for archival purposes only)

New Actuators : Handling & Manipulation : Human-Computer Interaction
Bio-Mechatronics : Micro-Machining : Others
(Categorized into six research fields. Some topics may appear in multiple fields.)

New Actuators

Impact Drive Mechanisms
	Basic Principles: Piezoelectric impact drive Thermal impact drive Air impact drive DC electrostatic impact drive	Applications: Micro manipulation system Piezoelectric injector Precise positioning of parts fixed by friction

Electrostatic Actuators
	Basic Principles: High-power electrostatic motor Pulse-driven induction type AC Dual excitation type Electrostatic glass motor DC electrostatic impact drive	Applications: Operation in vacuum MR-compatible actuator Electrostatic paper feeder Electrostatic haptic devices

Magnetostrictive Actuators
	Magnetostrictive / Piezoelectric Composite for magnetic force control Micro magnetostrictive actuaor with wide operating temperature range

Thermal Actuators
	Thermal impact drive Thermal actuators using self-excited oscillation of bimetals

Handling & Manipulation Technologies

Levitation Technologies
	Electrostatic levitation of Al disk, Si wafer, & glass plate Electrostatic levitation in high-vacuum condition Magnetic suspension using soft magnetic materials and high-Tc superconductors Magnetic levitation system by reluctance control Intuitive non-contact object handling using haptics

Micro Manipulation
	Transportation and manipulation of particles by an electric field Electrostatic Oocyte Rotation System Positioning of paritcles by liquid flow Micro Chemical Reactor Using Electrostatic Manipulation

Human-Computer/Machine Interaction

Haptics, Tactile Devices, Visualization
	Electrostatic tactile display based on friction control Tactile interface using electrostatic actuator Thermal tactile display SAW tactile display Virtual Bio-space

Human-Computer Interaction
	Physical assistance using electrostatic actuators Shape input device using PVDF sensors Intuitive object handling using a combination of non-contact levitation and haptic devices

Bio-Mechatronics

Oocyte manipulations
	Micro manipulation system Electrostatic oocyte rotation system Positioning of oocytes by liquid flow Cryopreserved cell manipulation in liquid nitrogen

Bio-imaging
	3-Dimensional Internal Structure Microscope (3D-ism) Automatic Thin Sectioning Microtome System 3-dimensional bio-imaging using infrared spectroscopy Virtual Bio-space

Micro-Machining

Micro/Precision Machining
	3D Microstructures Fabrication of Paraffin or Plastic with Laser Heating Fabrication of micro mechanical components by ultra-precision cutting Fabrication of optical components by ultra-precision cutting

Lab on a Chip, μ-TAS
	Droplet Atomization using SAW standing wave Protein deposition by SAW-ED Droplet Formation in a Microchannel Network Micro Chemical Reactor Using Electrostatic Manipulation

Other Projects

SAW (Surface Acoustic Wave) Mechatronics
- Direct frictional driven SAW motor
- SAW atomizer
- SAW gyroscope
Hydrothermal Method and Its Applications
- Micro ulrasonic motor
- Single process hydrothermal method
- Flat type touch probe sensor
- Ear-phone for hearing aid
Single-bit Digital Control
Performance investigation on step motors