Atsushi Takagi, Multidisciplinary research at the interface of neuroscience and robotics, La Châtaigneraie, 2007
Atsushi Takagi
La Châtaigneraie, 2007
Multidisciplinary research at the interface of neuroscience and robotics
Japan
Find out more about me:
I live on the outskirts of Tokyo and am a researcher specialising in neuroscience and robotics. My focus is on how the brain uses sensory information coming from vision, touch, and proprioception (the sense of body location) to control movements. I model the behaviour observed in humans and try to replicate them in robots. Recently, some colleagues and I showed that you can sense a partner's intentions through touch. We modelled this behaviour to create a robotic assistant that helps you move and avoid obstacles in a human-like manner.
I have many fond memories of playing football with friends during my free time. The field trips at the beginning of the year were also great. One year we got stuck on the road for a few hours due to flooding, but we entertained ourselves by getting off the bus and waving at truck drivers going the opposite way.
Growing up in an international environment opened up the possibility of studying and working anywhere in the world. Continuing my studies in London, another hub of international culture seemed a natural choice, and the connections I have made there are invaluable both personally and professionally. Nearly all careers benefit from being multilingual, and the younger you are, the easier it is to pick up a new language. So, I regret not having put more effort into language studies, especially French.
My words of wisdom for Ecolint students: having a unique Extended Essay in terms of topic or perspective will put you ahead in interviews at universities, so spend some time and choose your topic with care!
What legacy do I want to leave? I hope that some of my research helps in the development of robots that improve healthcare, especially in the care of the elderly. Beyond that, many scientists, myself included, are aiming to win an Ig Nobel Prize (not to be confused with the Nobel Prize), whose aim is to "honour achievements that first make people laugh, and then make them think".