Exploring Mechanisms that Integrate Design and Engineering (Associate Professor Yasuyuki Yamada, Department of Engineering and Design, Faculty of Engineering and Design)

Mechanisms are old and new solutions for SDGs

My specialty is mechanism and design engineering. Mechanisms, an ancient field of mechanical engineering, are examined from both design and engineering perspectives from the user's point of view, with the aim of proposing simple solutions to problems that do not rely too heavily on computers, electronics, electricity, or other energy consuming devices.

We believe that this kind of mechanism is a way to contribute to solving the challenges of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) because it is more durable with a simplified structure than solutions that make extensive use of electronic devices and actuators, and it leads to high recyclability and energy conservation. We believe that this is a way to contribute to solving the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals).

Human-centered manufacturing has been described in various terms, such as "ergonomics" in the past and "design engineering," "design thinking," and "human-centered design" today. Although this field is attracting increasing interest worldwide, efforts in Japan are still modest. As social issues have become more complex and diverse in recent years, I assume that demand will only increase in the future, and I intend to grow further myself while nurturing the next generation of designers.

Practicing "social implementation" to bring R&D results to the world.

I believe that university research and education in the future will need to fulfill the so-called "social implementation" of research results into actual use in society, as well as educate people who can do so.

We realized this keenly when we developed the "YaCHAIKA" high heels. The product was highly acclaimed, winning the James Dyson Award in an international design contest and being selected for the Paris Collection, but it never made it to the market. This was because we had no experience in marketing a product and left it halfway to others. Based on this experience, I decided to establish a venture company in order to learn from it and practice managing a company and selling products in order to better ensure that the results of my research and development are implemented in society.

Many professors in the Faculty of Engineering and Design concurrently work for design and architectural firms. This is probably because practical experience leads to social implementation of cutting-edge research at the university, and can also be used for more practical education.

We are convinced that the need for problem-solving methods through mechanisms will increase in various fields in the future. One example is TasKi, an assist device (a tool designed to assist) that reduces the workload on the upper arm by supporting the upper arm and assisting in tasks that require the arm to be raised continuously, such as farming in orchards and maintenance and inspection work. Social implementation has already begun.

• TasKi, an assist device that supports the upper arm with a self-weight compensation mechanism that does not make the arm feel heavy. Its simple spring-loaded structure allows it to be used outdoors for long periods of time without worrying about rain.

We are currently focusing on "child-carrying bicycles. Currently, the structure of these bicycles is simply a child seat attached to an adult bicycle, so safety and ease of use for the child are not necessarily priorities. We would like to consider a new bicycle mechanism that is safe and comfortable for both adults who drive and children who ride with them.

I would also like to work on manufacturing products that solve problems by devising mechanisms, such as furniture that can be easily assembled without the use of tools.

Giving back to students the education he received from his mentors and encouraging them to develop their potentials.

• A laboratory designed so that the arrangement can be freely modified according to the application. All furniture in the room can be rearranged with only one tool so that even students can handle it easily.

Solutions to the complex and diverse problems of modern society tend to be proportionally more complex and diverse. Devising and implementing such solutions requires knowledge and integration skills that span multiple fields.

Fortunately, each time I have been involved in a new area of mechanical engineering, I have had the opportunity to be taught by professors who are at the forefront of their fields. I was taught the fundamentals of automotive engineering as an undergraduate student when I was absorbed in the student formula, and I studied ergonomics, robotics, and system design in depth at graduate school. Since I became interested in a research career, I have been involved in research on soft robotics and bio-normative design. The skills and knowledge I have gained in this way have led me to my own research.

As an educator, I would like to return the favor by focusing on the development of students. I would like to spread "Practical wisdom" while encouraging students to draw out and nurture the potential they possess and send them out into the world. I believe this is my role as a faculty member.

Students in the Faculty of Engineering and Design's Department of Engineering and Design have a high degree of independence, and I look forward to their future, as they seem to have a positive attitude toward what they want to do. I hope that they will acquire the "agile flexibility" to create new things while responding to changing circumstances.

(First published in the August/September 2021 issue of Hosei, a public relations magazine)