Koh Hosoda
Kyoto University, Japan
Abstract
Bioinspired Soft Embodiment for Adaptive Locomotion in Complex Environments
In this talk, I will present a quadruped musculoskeletal robot driven by pneumatic artificial muscles, designed to mimic key features of the locomotor system of four-legged animals. The robot exploits its soft, body-derived dynamics together with proprioceptive sensing to achieve adaptive locomotion in complex and uneven environments. I will further discuss how cross-modal transfer can support the emergence of robust locomotor behavior by enabling the reuse and reorganization of sensorimotor relationships across different modalities. These results suggest that bioinspired soft embodiment provides a promising foundation for adaptive intelligence in real-world locomotion.
Bio [Profile]
Koh Hosoda is a Professor at Kyoto University and a leading researcher in bioinspired robotics, soft robotics, and embodied intelligence. His research focuses on how morphology, material properties, and sensory feedback contribute to the emergence of adaptive behavior in animals and machines. He has pioneered the development of musculoskeletal robotic systems driven by pneumatic artificial muscles, with emphasis on proprioceptive sensing and adaptive locomotion.
Shigaki Shunsuke
National Institue of Informatics, Japan
Abstract
Olfactory navigation on land and in the air using a teleoperation system for an insect
Despite possessing relatively compact nervous systems, insects exhibit remarkable adaptability, maintaining robust behavioral performance not only under environmental fluctuations but also in the presence of substantial changes in their own bodily configuration. To investigate the mechanisms underlying this adaptability, we have proposed a teleoperation system in which insects control an artificial robotic platform. This framework enables the virtual imposition of body properties and structural characteristics that differ fundamentally from those of the insects themselves, thereby revealing the extent and limits of their adaptive capabilities. In this talk, I illustrate such adaptability to changes in body properties through the example of insect navigational behavior, focusing on how insects utilize olfactory cues to navigate toward a target location.
Bio [Profile]
Shunsuke Shigaki is an Assistant Professor at the National Institute of Informatics. He received his Ph.D. from Tokyo Institute of Technology in 2018. His research focuses on bio-inspired robotics and neuroethology, particularly reconstructing insect sensory–motor mechanisms in robotic systems to elucidate principles of natural intelligence.
Ahmad Rafsanjani
University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
Abstract
Limbless crawling soft robots
Limbless animals, such as snakes, earthworms, and snails, achieve locomotion by deforming their bodies and exploiting frictional or adhesive interactions with surface asperities. These biological strategies provide powerful blueprints for designing efficient limbless robots capable of traversing environments where wheeled or legged systems face significant limitations. In this talk, I will present a suite of soft robotic platforms that emulate distinct locomotion traits observed in nature—from the rectilinear crawling of snakes, to the peristaltic propulsion of earthworms, to the adhesive gliding of snails. Special emphasis is placed on the role of the body and skin as active mechanical interfaces, and on how the segmented morphologies of animals can be synthetically replicated in robotic systems with flexible mechanical metamaterials, such as kirigami and origami structures. These engineered analogues not only reproduce biological locomotion principles but also enable tunable interactions with the environment, offering new degrees of adaptability and control. By translating natural strategies into synthetic systems, we gain fresh insights into the fundamental role of body–surface interactions in locomotion and advance toward the development of adaptive, multifunctional robotic platforms designed for real-world applications.
Bio [Profile]
Ahmad Rafsanjani is a Professor of Soft Robotics at SDU Biorobotics, The Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Institute, University of Southern Denmark. He leads a research group developing bioinspired soft robots that combine adaptive locomotion, AI-powered perception, and flexible mechanical metamaterials. His work focuses on embedding sensing, actuation, and intelligence directly into material architectures. These technologies target applications ranging from biomedical devices to environmental monitoring and exploration.
Akira Fukuhara
Tohoku University, Japan
Abstract
Decentralized control for underwater swimming using fin flapping
Bio [ Profile]
Dr. Akira Fukuhara serves as an Assistant Professor at Tohoku University’s Research Institute of Electrical Communication. His work investigates simple yet effective decentralized control mechanisms that enable legged and swimming robots to achieve adaptive locomotion. By integrating insights from robotics and paleontology, he aims to uncover the fundamental principles of animal-like movement in artificial systems.
Dai Owaki
Tohoku University, Japan
Abstract
Self-Organized Soft Underwater Locomotion in Jellyfish Cyborgs
Jellyfish cyborgs represent a significant advancement in soft robotics by harnessing the inherent efficiency and adaptability of biological organisms. In this talk, I will outline our methodology for predicting and controlling underwater locomotion using the embodied intelligence of the moon jellyfish Aurelia coerulea. By employing an integrated system that combines muscle electrostimulation, three-dimensional motion capture, and Reservoir Computing, we reveal self-organized dynamics in jellyfish swimming and identify stimulation patterns that enable predictable locomotion. Additionally, I would like to discuss potential future research trajectories, particularly regarding the concept of Soft Transitions.
Bio [Profile]
DAI OWAKI received the Ph.D. degree from the Department of Electrical and Communication Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, in 2009. Since April 2019, he has been an Associate Professor with the Department of Robotics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University. He received the Young Scientists Award, MEXT, in 2020. From April 2026, he will serve as the Principal Investigator of a Grant-in-Aid for Transformative Research Areas (B) project, "Design Biology for Ultimate Embodied Intelligence".
Rob Scharff
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong
Abstract
Bio-inspired soft robots for underwater locomotion manipulation, and perception
Bioinspired soft robots for underwater locomotion, manipulation, and perception
Nature conservation often presents a difficult dilemma: we either leave delicate ecosystems unmonitored, or we risk damaging them through the very act of human or mechanized intervention. My work seeks to bridge this gap. I will discuss our ongoing research on bioinspired robots designed for non-disturbing monitoring and intervention in delicate and highly challenging terrains such as coral reefs, intertidal mudflats, and near-freezing penguin habitats. Through close collaboration with partners like WWF Hong Kong, The Nature Conservancy, and Ocean Park Hong Kong, we aim to demonstrate the benefits of biomimetic propulsion in minimizing damage to flora and fauna. Next, we present our research on AI and bioinspired actuators developed to execute useful tasks in these environments, such as the removal of trash and invasive species, surveying, and behavioral monitoring.
Bio [Profile]
Rob Scharff is an assistant professor in the Division of Integrative Systems and Design and the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). His research focuses on the design of bioinspired robots for underwater locomotion and manipulation.
Kotaro Yasui
Tohoku University, Japan
Abstract
How centipedes and eels navigate land and water: Insights from a motor control perspective
Some animals can navigate both terrestrial and aquatic environments by adaptively coordinating their body motions. In this talk, I will present our study focusing on centipedes and eels, aiming to extract motor control principles for adaptive amphibious locomotion by combining animal experiments, modeling, simulations, and robotic experiments. In particular, I would like to share findings on how locomotor flexibility can be achieved through the low-level locomotor circuits (central pattern generators and sensory feedback) and descending control from the higher center (brain).
Bio [Profile]
Kotaro Yasui is an Assistant Professor at the Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences (FRIS), Tohoku University. He received his Ph.D. in Engineering from Tohoku University in 2020. His research interests lie in bio-inspired robotics and neuroethology, focusing on modeling animal motor control systems to extract the fundamental principles that enable adaptive and versatile locomotion in complex environments
Megan Leftwich
The George Washington University, USA
Abstract
A maneuverable underwater robot based on extensive study of the California sea lion
Bio [Profile]
Naresh Kumar Thanigaivel
SUTD, Singapore
Early career spotlight
Abstract
Skeleton–Skin Architectures: Rethinking How We Build Hybrid Soft Robots
Soft robots have demonstrated remarkable capabilities in controlled environments, yet building robotic bodies that balance structural stiffness, compliance, and multifunctionality remains a fundamental challenge for real-world deployment. Inspired by the skeleton–skin architecture of biological organisms, this talk presents a co-design framework where internal rigid structures and external soft bodies are developed as an integrated system. I will present recent work on vertebrate-inspired robotic structures, programmable thermal morphing skins that enable changes in shape, stiffness, and color, and bio-based fabrication using eggshell- and seaweed-derived inks as a step toward more sustainable hybrid robotic bodies. Together, these projects explore new design and fabrication strategies for adaptive robots capable of transitioning across diverse environments.
Bio [Profile]
Naresh Kumar Thanigaivel is a final-year PhD candidate at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), researching hybrid soft-rigid robotic structures inspired by biological systems. His work spans computational design, digital fabrication, and multifunctional materials — with projects ranging from vertebrate-inspired robots to programmable thermal morphing skins and bio-based robotic materials. He has presented his research at venues including IEEE RoboSoft, the Gordon Research Conferences (GRC), and the 4D Materials Design and Additive Manufacturing Conference (4DMDA).
