Robotic Research Center

The Projects Representative of Our Research Activities

• Adopted for strategic research foundation grant-aided project for private universities (2013–2017)
  “Research on infrastructural technologies for information-driven mechanical system that propels growth of the next generation ‘satoyama satoumi ’”
  Sadao Kawamura, Representative Director of the research project

Research objective

Looking into the near future, there will be, in the realm boundaries between human living space and natural environment, hubs utilizing natural energies such as from solar and wind, artificial structures for the purpose of living or disaster prevention, like bridges, tunnels, and dykes, as well as facilities of manufacturing and production industries relying on an ecosystem, such as agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. We need to keep a harmonized and sustainable relationship between humans and the environment, while maintaining these realm boundaries as they are. From the ancient times in Japan, people have stepped into the realm of the natural environment, forming a “satoyama satoumi” (traditional communities in the regions with a coupling of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem–satoyama, and in the regions with a coupling of marine and coastal ecosystem–satoumi), paving the way to secure natural resources. This perception needs to be embodied in the environment surrounding the next generations. Our “satoyama satoumi” nowadays, however, have become devoid of population, which led to their destruction, and then the devastation of the natural environment, bringing about lots of problems, including contamination in the air, on land, and underwater, all across. For the next generation “satoyama satoumi” based on natural energy hubs and other facilities, we need to keep an eye on the natural environment and artificial structures with intensified spatial-temporal resolution, and then based on the scientific data, implement the measures to keep them in harmony with nature. This research explores infrastructural technologies that should enable the information-driven mechanical system to conduct environmental surveys and cooperate with the environment in place of humans, with the objective of changing the regions into the next generation “satoyama satoumi”.

Expected impact

Utilizing the information-driven mechanical system, this research attempts to solve the issue of being devoid of the population, a major factor for the devastation of “satoyamasatoumi”. The factors for being devoid of the population include aging of the workers, market collapse in the forestry and coastal fisheries, confusion about a new situation involving energy hubs, for instance, and other elements. We use the information-driven mechanical system to solve these issues. Specific solutions include environmental monitoring made simultaneously at multiple locations, maintenance and management of mountain forests by flying vehicles, management of mountain forest ground that negates the need for trails, underwater multifunctional handling, highly efficient amphibious moves, and so on. Results obtained from this research are useful for the maintenance and management of the natural environment around normal mountain forests and coastal regions, and should meet the global demands. Making up this cross-realm research team are the researchers from machinery, electronics, information, communication, civil engineering, construction, to environmental realm, searching for a solution to the research agenda. We are sure they will measure up to our expectations and a new system will come forth out of their endeavors. Furthermore, we put the developed system into practice to test its feasibility in the mountain forest within the premises of the university campus and along Lake Biwa, in order to obtain evidence closer to the practical use than done in an experimental room. At the bottom line, the system will be available for business use after the project has been completed.