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About

Akihiro Kojima is a leading researcher in soft robotics, specializing in the durability and performance of pneumatic artificial muscles and soft actuators. His work centers on extending the fatigue life of rubber materials used in soft robots, which often undergo large deformations and fail prematurely. Kojima’s key contributions include a novel method that leverages the hysteresis of strain-induced crystallization in natural rubber to prolong rubber fatigue life—a breakthrough with 16 citations that addresses a critical bottleneck in soft robot longevity. He also developed straight-fiber-type artificial muscles (SF-ARMs) and high-strain elastic actuators with stress anisotropy from short fibers, enhancing deformation control under pressurization. His research has garnered over 38 citations, with notable papers from 2019 to 2022. Kojima’s work is pivotal for advancing wearable movement-assist devices and human-cooperative robots, offering practical solutions for actuator reliability. His innovative approach to material science and actuator design positions him as a key figure in making soft robots more durable and commercially viable.