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About

Takanari Sasaya is a pioneering robotics engineer whose research has fundamentally advanced the field of miniaturized in-pipe inspection and locomotive systems. Working at the intersection of microrobotics, wireless energy transmission, and autonomous systems, Sasaya has dedicated his career to solving one of the central challenges in miniaturized robotics: delivering power to untethered machines operating in confined, inaccessible spaces. His most celebrated contribution is the development of a wireless in-pipe microrobot system that harnesses microwave energy transmission to eliminate the need for onboard batteries or physical power cables. By designing a 14 GHz microwave rectifying circuit achieving meaningful conversion efficiency, Sasaya enabled robots as small as 9.5 mm in diameter to navigate pipes as narrow as 10–15 mm autonomously. His systems integrate piezoelectric bimorph actuators for locomotion, CCD cameras for interior inspection, and compact control circuits — representing a holistic engineering achievement rather than isolated innovations. With cumulative citations exceeding 125 across six key publications spanning 1999 to 2003, Sasaya's work has influenced subsequent generations of researchers in medical microrobotics, industrial pipeline inspection, and wireless power transfer. His body of work stands as a foundational reference for anyone engineering autonomous robots at the millimeter scale.