Human and Environment Informatics

Make human society comfortable, safe and secure by sensing and robot technologies

In order to contribute to the realization of a secure, safe and comfortable living environment, this laboratory is proceeding research on wearable sensors, information analytical technlogies, and development of innovative sensing systems.

Faculty Members

In order to realize a safe, secure and comfortable living environment, we are promoting research on sensing technology for various information emitted by humans, higher-order information processing technology that extracts body and mental state, behavior change and intervention technology. Specifically, based on stress and emotion sensing technology, we are conducting research on methods for evaluating and predicting intellectual productivity, how to realize high-quality breaks and sleep with a real feeling, and intervention methods to improve personal comfort, productivity and group communication. Through these researches, we will build a human environment model that contributes to promotion of mental and physical health, and show our society the creation of new lifestyles from both physical and psychological environments.

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System platform promoting mental/physical health

Our research group is studying various autonomous systems using ROBOT technologies. Especially we focus on distributed and integrated robot systems with unprecedented shapes, mechanisms, and strategies. When you see our robot, you might say “Is this really a robot !?”
Each robot is not only a machine, but also has various forms such as sensors, electronic circuits, and artificial intelligence (AI). Sometimes our robots get into the environment as if they were an original part of the environment. This approach is called environmental structuring technology that helps humans live comfortably and other robots work efficiently.
Please Imagine a world where “robots” that do not look like robots cooperate with each other, execute great work to help people, and make people happy. We are looking forward to studying with students who are interested in innovation with technologies.

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HanGrawler: Large-payload and high-speed ceiling mobile robot using crawler.

As represented by the advancement of IoT devices, mobile/wearable devices, automobiles, healthcare devices, and so on, people's life, society, and industry are supported by various sensor technologies and sensor information networks. Aiming to enrich the living environment in the future, we are researching on sensor devices and sensing technology, which are core technologies for this purpose. Specifically, in order to create technologies that closely related to support our daily lives, such as advanced healthcare technology (breath diagnosis technology, etc.) and large-capacity optical communication technology, we are developing sensing nanodevices based on new detection principles by using NEMS (Nanoelectromechanical systems) technology, semiconductor technology, nanofabrication, device measurement technology, and information technology. We combine device technologies with information technology in order to create new sensing devices and technologies.
We value the sense of feeling “Interesting!”, and we are challenging to create new technologies.

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NEMS gas sensing device for the healthcare (Breath diagnosis)

We are researching on elucidation of human perception and cognition, and development of control methods of them to realize innovative experiences and comfortable lifes. In particular, we have been focusing on the cross-modal effect, in which several different senses, such as vision and haptics, influence each other's senses, and have been discovering new effects and developing sensory display technologies using them. Specifically, we have researched on the presentation of sensory information such as virtual objects, wind, and water by using the cross-modal effect, and on the enhancement of human abilities such as the work efficiency by using illusions.
We are also working on a display that induces people's emotional states by combining sensory feedback and biometric measurement. We aim to create innovative sensory display technologies that utilize human perception and cognitive characteristics based on the technology of XR, AI, biometric measurement, and the knowledge of human interface and cognitive psychology.

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Cross-modal Wind Display: Modifying Perceived Directions of Wind Using Visuo-audio-haptic Interaction