Fumio Uchikoba
Papers
34
Total Citations
284
H-Index
9
About
Fumio Uchikoba is a pioneering researcher in bio-inspired microrobotics, specializing in the design and control of insect-scale MEMS (Microelectromechanical Systems) robots driven by hardware neural networks. His work sits at the compelling intersection of biomimetics, neuromorphic engineering, and microfabrication, pushing the boundaries of what is achievable at the millimeter scale. Uchikoba's most celebrated contribution is the development of a biomimetic microrobot — measuring just 4.0 × 2.7 × 2.5 mm — fabricated from silicon wafers using MEMS technology and controlled by pulse-type hardware neuron models that mimic biological central pattern generators (CPGs). This groundbreaking system, introduced around 2011–2012, has accumulated over 38 citations and demonstrated insect-like locomotion switching behavior without conventional software control. His subsequent research advanced independent leg mechanisms, shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators for faster locomotion, mountable neural network ICs, and electrostatic inchworm motors — collectively accumulating nearly 190 citations across his most prominent works. By integrating neuromorphic circuits directly onto microrobot platforms, Uchikoba has made significant strides toward fully autonomous, self-contained micro-scale robots — a vision with profound implications for medical, inspection, and search-and-rescue applications.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 3Synchronization of Coupled Pulse-Type Hardware Neuron Models for CPG Model26 citations · 2011
- 4Four-leg independent mechanism for MEMS microrobot20 citations · 2017
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- 9Neural Networks Integrated Circuit for Biomimetics MEMS Microrobot10 citations · 2014
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