Akira Harada
Papers
6
Total Citations
756
H-Index
3
About
Akira Harada is a pioneering figure in supramolecular robotics, best known for his groundbreaking work on photoresponsive artificial muscles. His most influential contribution, the 2012 paper on "Expansion–contraction of photoresponsive artificial muscle regulated by host–guest interactions," has garnered over 720 citations, establishing a new paradigm for remotely controlled actuators. By integrating host–guest chemistry with photoswitchable azobenzene, Harada created materials that contract and expand under light—eliminating the need for direct physical contact with an actuator. This work laid the foundation for soft robotics and smart materials. More recently, his 2022 study on supramolecular nylon-based actuators achieved high work efficiency through mechanoisomerization, further advancing practical applications. Beyond materials science, Harada has also explored human-robot interaction, developing remote appreciation robots for art museums and asynchronous teleoperation systems via the Internet. His interdisciplinary approach—bridging chemistry, robotics, and human interface design—has inspired new directions in both stimuli-responsive polymers and remote presence technology. With a career spanning fundamental supramolecular chemistry to applied robotics, Harada’s research continues to shape how we design materials that move, respond, and interact with the world.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1
- 2Experiments on a remote appreciation robot in an art museum23 citations · 2002
- 3
- 4Remote museum system using a networked robot3 citations · 1998
- 5Effect of map indication on remote control of a mobile robot2 citations · 2003
- 6Asynchronous Robot Teleoperation via the Internet: Mobile Agent Approach2 citations · 2000