Jun Shintake, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical and Intelligent Systems Engineering

Jun Shintake is developing soft actuators, sensors, and other robotic elements. As a base technology he is using an artificial muscle called dielectric elastomer actuators that consist of a soft membrane with compliant electrodes on both sides. Applying voltages to the electrodes generates an expansion of the membrane as actuation. The principle of this artificial muscle forms the basis for creating robots and other devices.

“We make all the devices by laminating thin film materials which are cut with a laser machine,” explains Shintake. “This process allows the realization of various robotics elements such as actuators, sensors, pumps, and wearables.”
In addition to the development of soft robotic devices,Shintake is also working on environmentally friendly robots with the vision that in the future many different kinds of robots will blend into human society and the natural environment.

Within this context, if a robot malfunctions or is involved in an accident, then it becomes waste, leading to environmental destruction. This means there is a conflict in the desire to develop soft robots that could cause environmental devastation. With this background, Shintake and his group are developing soft robots using biodegradable materials that return to the soil.

The video includes examples of a biodegradable soft actuator that exhibits bending actuation when air is injected. Gelatin is used as the main material in this device. As illustrated in the video, the actuator gradually degrades and eventually blends into the soil.

However, air-based actuators have limitations including the requirement for external pumps which are often difficult to implement into a robot.

“I have developed biodegradable soft actuators that are electrically driven,” says Shintake. “Similar to other examples from our research, we use gelatin together with oil and other biodegradable materials. By using these materials, I have demonstrated that these actuators can generate muscle-like contraction movements.”

Shintake add that ultimately plants are promising biodegradable materials for robots. This video includes a concept of a plant robot. Some kinds of plants exhibit physical deformations in response to external stimuli. Shintake is exploiting this behavior for the development of plant-based robots.

“I am also interested in biomimetic robots,” says Shintake. “In this case, I am developing a fish robot that can fly into the air from underwater like a flying fish. My work covers a broad range of areas of expertise involving the development of soft robotic elements, biodegradable devices, and biomimetic robots. Please contact me if you would like to know more about our research and collaborate in the development of these unique robotic elements.”