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Contact

Address:
6-6-01 Aramaki Aza Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8579 Japan
Graduate School of Information Sciences, Tohoku University
Phone:+81-22-795-7025  Fax: +81-22-795-7023
E-mail: konyo@rm.is.tohoku.ac.jp

Access:
Room 412, Research Building M.A.E - Mechanical Engineering, Tohoku University
[Access Map]


Short Biography

Masashi Konyo received the BS, MS, and Ph.D. degrees in engineering from Kobe University in 1999, 2001 and 2004, respectively. He is currently an associate professor of the Graduate School of Information Sciences, Tohoku University. His research interests include haptics, rescue robotics, and new actuators. He serves for many major international conferences including Editor for IEEE/RSJ IROS2013, Associate Editors for IEEE ICRA (2012-), IEEE/RSJ IROS (2010- ), etc. He was PI for national academic grants including five Grants-in-Aid by MEXT (2006-), SCOPE, NEXT, and ImPACT-TRC. He is the recipients of the Young Scientists Prize, the Commendation for Science and Technology by MEXT (2015), Kisoi Motohiro Award (2015), Best Paper Awards of J. Robotics and Mechatronics (2010) and Advanced Robotics (2016). He is a member of the IEEE, RSJ, JSME, SICE, and VRSJ.


Research Topics

  • Tactile displays
  • Tactile sensors
  • Haptic interfaces
  • New actuators

Visit Human-Robot Informatics Laboratory Website for more details.


Projects and Funding

The following funding has been acquired as PI:

MEXT, Grant-in-Aid for Transformative Research Areas (A) (23H04327) (2023-2024), "Exploring High-quality Stereohaptic Vibration Displays that Localizes External World"
This project aims to explore improving the quality of experience for the new concept of the stereohaptic vibration display proposed in our previous study.
MEXT, Grant-in-Aid for Transformative Research Areas (A) (21H04542) (2021-2022), "Realization of highly realistic stereo vibration display to localize the outside world"
This project aims to realize a three-dimensional vibrotactile representation technology that localizes vibration sources in the external world.
MEXT, Grant-in-Aid for for Scientific Research (A) (#21H04542) (2021-2023), "Understanding Tactile Functions that Contribute to Human Dexterity Based on Reproductions of Cutaneous Sensation with Real-time Simulation"
This project aims to investigate human grasping and manipulation strategies empirically by constructing a tactile cyber-physical system that integrates distributed suction tactile displays, a multi-finger force feedback device, and a real-time mechanical simulation of the finger.
MEXT, Grant-in-Aid for for Scientific Research (B) (#18H01401) (2018-2020), "Investigations of High-quality Whole Body Tactile Displays by Reproducing Propagated High-frequency Vibrations"
This project aims to understand the propagation characteristics of high-frequency vibration on the body and reproduce propagation characteristics for tactile displays.
ImPACT R&D Program on Tough Robotics Challenge (2014-2019), "Remote Operation Support using Haptic Feedback for Disaster Response Robots"
The objectives are to enhance human operation capability by transmitting tactile information on a remote controlled robot and develop tactile feedback technologies for multiple disaster response robot platforms.
MEXT, Grant-in-Aid for for Scientific Research (B) (#26289057) (2014-2016), "Investigation of Cutaneous Functions on the Whole Body During Dynamic Impedance Adjustments of the Body with Environments"
The objective is to investigate human tactile sensing mechanisms on adapting body impedance against environmental changes using haptic devices and vibrotactile feedback devices.
MEXT, Grant-in-Aid for Exploratory Research (#26630083) (2014-2015), "Investigation of Multipoint Cutaneous Activities on the Skin and Applications for Enhancing Technologies"
The objective is to investigate human tactile cues for tool manipulation and develop haptic augmentation technology for enhancing sensitivity during tool manipulation.
Funding Program for Next Generation World–Leading Researchers (NEXT Program) supported by the Cabinet Office, Government of Japan (2010–2013), "Studies on Motor Function Support Using Enhancement and Transfer of Cutaneous Sensation"
The objective was to reveal the influences and the mechanisms of cutaneous sensation toward the motor perception and develop sensory enhancement technologies and sensory transfer technologies for supporting motor functions.
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan, Strategic Information and Communications R&D Promotion Programme (SCOPE) (2008–2010), "Development of Haptic Interaction Technologies through a Virtual Active Touch with a Fingertip"
The objective was to develop pseudo-haptic representation methods using vibrotactile stimuli on mobile interfaces.
MEXT, Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A) (#21686024) (2009 – 2010), "Exploring New Aspects of Cutaneous Sensation: Investigation of Skin Stimulation to Induce Pseudo Kinesthetic Sensation and Its Applications"
The objective was to propose a new approach to produce pseudo motion sensation by cutaneous stimulations.
MEXT, Grant-in-Aid for Exploratory Research (#21656065) (2009–2010), "Supporting Grasping Tasks under Subconsciousness for Intuitive Haptic Interface"
The objective was to control a human subconscious grasping force reflection by presenting distributed skin stimuli and to investigate the basis of the reflection for novel intuitive interfaces.
MEXT, Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)(#18760179) (2006-2008), "Study on a Haptic Interface Based on a Force-like Illusion against Vibrotactile Stimuli"
The objective was to study haptic interface using illusions induced by vibrotactile stimuli based on characteristics of tactile receptors and skin deformation.

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