Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Yokohama National University (YNU) has established itself as a powerhouse in robotics, mechatronics, and intelligent systems research, with a legacy of innovation spanning more than three decades. The institution is particularly renowned for its pioneering work in soft and flexible actuation, legged locomotion, and advanced motor control — research areas that have fundamentally shaped modern robotics. Among YNU's most celebrated contributions is the development of the Flexible Microactuator (FMA), a fiber-reinforced rubber device driven by electropneumatic or electrohydraulic systems capable of three degrees of freedom — pitch, yaw, and stretch. First introduced in 1992 and refined through subsequent decades, this work has accumulated nearly 700 citations across key publications, influencing the design of robotic fingers, surgical tools, and miniature robotic systems worldwide. This foundational research reflects YNU's enduring strength in soft robotics and compliant mechanisms. YNU researchers have also made lasting impacts in biped locomotion, contributing seminal studies on Zero Moment Point (ZMP) measurement, robust walking control, and dynamic balance — work that remains highly relevant to humanoid robot development. Complementing this, the university has pushed boundaries in motor control, notably through disturbance-observer-based sliding mode control techniques and novel inverter designs for multi-motor systems, demonstrating deep expertise in the intersection of power electronics and robotics. More recent research highlights YNU's evolving focus on human-robot collaboration, including backdrivable gear systems for safe physical interaction, stretchable multi-modal sensors for soft robotics and wearables, and infrastructure inspection robots responding to pressing societal needs in Japan. With research spanning from microscale actuators to full-body humanoid systems, YNU offers prospective students and collaborators a uniquely broad and impactful environment for advancing the frontiers of intelligent robotics.