Kenjiro Takemura

About

Kenjiro Takemura is a pioneering robotics researcher whose work spans advanced actuation systems, soft robotics, and multi-degree-of-freedom mechanisms. He is perhaps best known for his sustained exploration of electro-conjugate fluid (ECF), a functional fluid that generates flow and force under applied electric fields, which he has harnessed to develop micro artificial muscle cells, inchworm robots, and sophisticated robotic hands capable of dexterous grasping. His landmark 2011 studies on ECF-driven robot hands, each garnering 57 citations, demonstrate how balloon actuators and palm-motion mechanisms can replicate the complexity of human hand movement without traditional rigid drives. Equally influential is Takemura's contributions to ultrasonic motor technology, including the development of a five-fingered robot hand (57 citations) that mirrors human hand degrees of freedom, and a plate-type multi-DOF ultrasonic motor with an innovative self-oscillation driving circuit (37 citations). His novel master-slave control methodology using switching and elastic elements further broadened the practical applications of robotic manipulation. More recently, his stretchable optical waveguide sensor (31 citations) reflects a forward-looking embrace of soft robotics sensing solutions. Collectively, Takemura's research has shaped the landscape of biomimetic robotics and intelligent actuator design.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   A robot hand using electro-conjugate fluid: Grasping experiment with balloon actuators inducing a palm motion of robot hand

   57 citations · 2011
2. 2
   Development of a robot finger for five-fingered hand using ultrasonic motors

   57 citations · 2004
3. 3
   Micro inchworm robot using electro-conjugate fluid

   56 citations · 2014
4. 4
   Development and control of a micro artificial muscle cell using electro-conjugate fluid

   48 citations · 2006
5. 5
   Integration of micro artificial muscle cells using electro-conjugate fluid

   39 citations · 2008
6. 6
   A robot hand using electro-conjugate fluid

   38 citations · 2011
7. 7
   Design of a Plate Type Multi-DOF Ultrasonic Motor and Its Self-Oscillation Driving Circuit

   37 citations · 2004
8. 8
   Stretchable Optical Waveguide Sensor Capable of Two-Degree-of-Freedom Strain Sensing Mediated by a Semidivided Optical Core

   31 citations · 2022
9. 9
   A Micro Artificial Muscle Actuator using Electro-conjugate Fluid

   25 citations · 2006
10. 10
    Method for controlling master-slave robots using switching and elastic elements

    24 citations · 2003

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links