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Arai Lab
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The lab learns from living organisms to build robotic systems at the millimeter, micro, and nano scales.
AboutAbout the lab
Learning from living organisms to build small robots
The Arai Lab studies robotics and mechatronics based on MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) and nanotechnology.
Using the concept of "biorobotics," which takes living organisms as models, the lab aims to realize intelligent mechanical systems that have never existed before.
The lab has built microrobots that manipulate cells, as well as models that closely replicate the human body for use in surgical training.
Applications are wide-ranging, including scientific exploration, medicine and welfare, regenerative medicine, and advanced measurement.
Key terms
- MEMS
- Extremely small devices, made with semiconductor microfabrication technology, that combine sensors and tiny machines
- Biorobotics
- Research on robots that take living organisms as models and draw on the mechanisms organisms have acquired
- Nanotechnology
- Technology for handling and processing matter at extremely small scales, close to those of atoms and molecules
NewsLab news
Students received the MHS2025 Best Paper Award
Prof. Arai received the Achievement Award from the Micro-Nano Science and Technology Division of the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers
Prof. Arai received the Society Award from the Society for Chemistry and Micro-Nano Systems
Prof. Arai received the Division Academic Achievement Award from the System Integration Division of the Society of Instrument and Control Engineers
A student received the Young Researcher Excellent Presentation Award at the Micro-Nano Science and Technology Symposium
ResearchResearch themes
Based on MEMS and nanotechnology, the lab studies the functional elements needed for next-generation intelligent mechanical systems, as well as the control and integration of those systems. Following the biorobotics approach of taking living organisms as models, the lab organizes its research around three pillars: "building," "moving," and "measuring."
*Illustrative imageLearning from Living Organisms to "Build"
Taking an approach of learning from and imitating living organisms, the lab designs the structures of intelligent mechanical systems. The research embeds functions into structures using three-dimensional MEMS fabrication, 3D printers, and new materials.
*Illustrative imageCombining Intelligence to "Move"
The lab adds motion to the structures it has built. Beyond control theory, it integrates sensing with sensors based on new principles and AI-driven intelligence using the cloud to generate movement.
*Illustrative image"Measuring" Living Organisms
The lab creates new devices through microfabrication at scales from nano to micro, and measures biological samples such as cells to uncover functions and mechanisms that are not yet understood.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Arai Lab are faculty, researchers including project researchers, technical specialists, support staff, students in the doctoral, master's, and undergraduate programs, special auditing students, and international internship trainees.As of 2023
- ProfessorFumihito AraiPublications ↗
- LecturerHirotaka SugiuraPublications ↗
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Microfluidic chip for point-of-care medical devices” FMNLab / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Learning from Living Organisms to "Build": “ISplash Robotic Fish bis” Richard James Clapham Ph.D Essex University / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Combining Intelligence to "Move": “Levitated nanoparticle” StephTr / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- "Measuring" Living Organisms: “Lab on a Chip ( )” National Institute of Standards and Technology / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (山川研究室): “Prototype robot parallèle PAR4” FrancoisPierrot34 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (鮎澤研究室
（ 特定客員） ): “Biomechanics human model in MOCAP system” El gato Tito / CC BY 4.0 (cropped) - Related lab (中野研究室): “SIMUVEG” Ipareja / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (GV lab(ベンチャー研究室)): “Robot Arm (NIH BioArt 457)” Courtesy of NIAID Ryan Kissinger / Public domain (cropped)
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