Minoru Kurosawa

About

Minoru Kurosawa is a distinguished researcher whose work spans ultrasonic motors, acoustic propulsion systems, and ultrasonic sensing technologies — fields where he has made lasting and innovative contributions. His early landmark research on cylindrical micro ultrasonic motors utilizing bulk lead zirconate titanate (PZT), now cited 69 times, demonstrated that ultrasonic motors could serve as highly effective microactuators, combining high torque, low speed, and mechanical simplicity in compact form factors. This foundational work helped establish ultrasonic motor design as a viable pathway for precision microactuation. Kurosawa has also advanced ultrasonic distance measurement, developing high-resolution cross-correlation methods using single-bit signal processing — work that has proven particularly valuable for autonomous mobile robot navigation, accumulating nearly 70 combined citations across related publications. More recently, his research has evolved toward acoustic underwater propulsion, pioneering swimmer actuators driven by surface acoustic waves (SAW) and PZT transducers, including novel designs using lithium niobate and layered SiO₂/Al/LiNbO₃ structures. These contributions are opening new frontiers in miniaturized underwater robotics with potential biomedical applications such as drug delivery. Across more than two decades of research, Kurosawa's work reflects a consistent commitment to harnessing acoustic and piezoelectric phenomena for real-world engineering challenges.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Cylindrical Micro Ultrasonic Motor Utilizing Bulk Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT)

   69 citations · 1999
2. 2
   Accuracy and resolution of ultrasonic distance measurement with high-time-resolution cross-correlation function obtained by single-bit signal processing

   48 citations · 2009
3. 3
   Real-time ultrasonic distance measurements for autonomous mobile robots using cross correlation by single-bit signal processing

   20 citations · 2009
4. 4
   Acoustic underwater propulsion system based on ultrasonic disc PZT transducer

   17 citations · 2023
5. 5
   A Novel Swimmer Actuator Via Leaky Surface Acoustic Wave

   11 citations · 2018
6. 6
   A Novel Approach to Swimmer Actuation via Leaky Surface Acoustic Wave

   11 citations · 2019
7. 7
   A miniature swimmer actuated by a PZT ring ultrasonic underwater propulsion system

   9 citations · 2024
8. 8
   A novel miniature swimmer propelled by 36° Y-cut lithium niobate acoustic propulsion system

   9 citations · 2023
9. 9
   Propulsion Measurement of High Frequency Underwater SAW Actuators

   9 citations · 2020
10. 10
    Swimmer with submerged SiO2/Al/LiNbO3 surface acoustic wave propulsion system

    8 citations · 2024

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links