Hirozumi Oku

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About

Hirozumi Oku is a pioneering researcher at the frontier of micro-robotics and biomimetic systems, specializing in the integration of neural network hardware with microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). His work focuses on creating millimeter-scale autonomous robots that mimic biological locomotion, combining piezoelectric actuators with hardware neuron models to achieve intelligent, self-contained motion. Oku’s most cited paper, “Neural Networks Integrated Circuit for Biomimetics MEMS Microrobot” (2014, 10 citations), introduces a dedicated neural network integrated circuit (NNIC) that generates driving waveforms for a 4.0 mm × 2.7 mm × 2.5 mm silicon-based microrobot, enabling sophisticated control without external computers. His second highly cited work (9 citations) demonstrates a piezoelectric impact-type rotary actuator paired with a hardware neuron model, achieving a millimetre-sized robot fabricated through precision micro-fabrication. These contributions are foundational to the emerging field of insect-scale robotics, where size, power, and intelligence constraints demand novel solutions. Oku’s achievements represent significant steps toward practical micro-robots for medical procedures, environmental monitoring, and exploration—pushing the boundaries of what is possible at the sub-centimeter scale.