Campus Tour @ the University of Osaka's Toyonaka Campus

On 3 June 2025, our group had the opportunity to visit the the University of Osaka Toyonaka Campus. Founded in 1724, the University of Osaka is one of the top-ranked universities in the Kansai district, and it boasts a vibrant academic environment and rich traditions. After arriving at Shibahara handai-mae station, we went to visit Professor Kenjiro Tadakoma and his students. Prof. Tadakoma then brought us to the Plus Ultra Mechanism Lab and showed us the equipment with which students can create their design and then use a 3D printer to create the components for their projects.

Afterwards, Prof. Tadakoma guided us to a display room where we were introduced to some projects in which two remarkable inventions are the Fire-Resistant Soft Robotic Gripper and the Cut-Resistant Soft Robotic Gripper. Prof. Tadakoma explained the principles behind these designs and illustrated their applications in various industries. We were given the chance to interact with the grippers to get a better understanding of this technology.

At the end we presented souvenir to Prof. Tadakoma as a small token of appreciation for his hospitality.

In conclusion, our visit to the University of Osaka was an enriching experience. We had a great time learning about the professor's reseacrh and innovative projects, broaden our horizon.