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Sawada Lab
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A lab that develops mechanisms for humans and machines to work in harmony, using robots and tactile sensors.
AboutAbout the lab
Building robots that stay close to the human heart.
The Sawada Lab studies technologies that allow humans and machines to work in harmony, such as robots and tactile sensors.
Its research themes are wide-ranging, including image information processing, music and multimedia, tactile information processing, and neural networks.
The lab is also affiliated with the Humanoid Robotics Institute at Waseda University, where it has studied the visual systems and affective interfaces of humanoid robots.
It aims to realize an environment in which human intellect, emotion, and will are in harmony with machine systems.
Key terms
- Neural network
- A computational mechanism modeled on the connections between nerve cells in the brain. It makes predictions and performs recognition through learning.
- Shape memory alloy (SMA)
- A metallic material that deforms depending on temperature and returns to its original shape when heated.
- Actuator
- A device that converts energy, such as an electrical signal, into actual motion or force.
NewsLab news
A master's student was named Japan National Winner of the James Dyson Award
A doctoral student was named Japan National Runner-up of the James Dyson Award
Two papers were selected as Best Paper Award finalists at IEEE ICMA 2025
A paper from the lab was selected as a Best Paper Award finalist at IEEE ICMA 2024
A paper from the lab was selected as a Featured Paper in the Journal of Information Processing (JIP) of the Information Processing Society of Japan
ResearchResearch themes
The lab studies technologies that allow humans and machines to work in harmony, including information processing for robots, images, and music, and tactile sensors. Research is carried out in several groups, including image information processing, robotics, chemical robotics, and tactile sensors.
*Illustrative imageImage and Music Information Processing
Using image recognition, computer graphics, and virtual reality, the lab studies how humans perceive space. It also works on building prediction and recognition systems that use music and neural networks.
*Illustrative imageRobots That Coexist with Humans
Toward robots that can coexist with humans, the lab studies fundamental technologies such as environment recognition, dynamic control, and interfaces. It also takes part in the Humanoid Robotics Institute at Waseda University.
*Illustrative imageChemical Robotics
The lab aims to realize robots with life-like functions, such as self-replication and autonomous movement, based on materials rather than on machinery.
*Illustrative imageShape Memory Alloys and Tactile Sensors
Using shape memory alloy (SMA) wires, the lab researches and develops sensors that detect touch and actuators that convey tactile sensations.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Sawada Lab are faculty, assistant professors, doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students, research students, and researchers.As of 2026
- ProfessorHideyuki Sawada
- Assistant ProfessorHaruo Igarashi
- Assistant ProfessorRenke Liu
VoicesStudent voices
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RelatedLabs similar to Sawada Lab
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Ozawa LabSchool of Advanced Science and Engineering, Department of Applied PhysicsMathematical PhysicsThe information on this page is compiled by the LabLog team from the lab's public information and interviews. For corrections or removal requests, please contact LabLog, not the lab.
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: “Quori socially interactive robot platform IMG” Mary Mark Ockerbloom / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Image and Music Information Processing: “Polarlicht 2 kmeans 16 large” Senior Airman Joshua Strang, derivative work by King of Hearts / Public domain (cropped)
- Robots That Coexist with Humans: “Robot arm handles an assay plate” National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases / Public domain (cropped)
- Chemical Robotics: “Belousov Zhabotinsky reaction ( )” Stephen Morris from Toronto, Canada / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Shape Memory Alloys and Tactile Sensors: “Memory Spring Quadrat” DaniSMI / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (森島研究室): “DBW-Render glass scene, recreated in POV-Ray” Morn / CC0 (cropped)
- Related lab (竹内研究室): “Femtosecond laser spark” Smirnov Semen / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (
青木研究室): “Fibres optique” Pastèque24 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped) - Related lab (小澤研究室): “World First Hiperboloid structure named Shukhov Tower in Polibino” Arssenev / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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