Educational Activities

Graduate school:Advanced Motion Control Application, Control and System Theory
Dept. of E.E.: Electric Vehicle Engineering
Yokohama Nat'l Univ.: Digital Control

Research Activities

Nanoscale servo control:
We are developing high-speed high-precision control for atomic force microscopes (AFMs). Conventional AFMs required several minutes to detect a nanoscale image, while the proposed control algorithm enables ten-times faster measurement. This algorithm has already been implemented in a commercial product. In the future, we will contribute to medical and material science by using our nanoscale servo technologies.
Moreover, we are researching nanoscale servo control on multi-degree-of-freedom high-precision stages. A possible application area is the scan-stage of the lithography process of liquid crystal displays and semi-conductors.
Head-positioning control of next-generation hard disk drives is also being developed. In the future, we will challenge novel data storages by using new principles.


Atomic force microscope

Multi-DOF nano-stage

Motion control for electric vehicles:
Electric vehicles (EVs) are considered a promising solution to energy and environmental problems. They also have potential applications in control engineering. Since electric motors and inverters are used in drive systems, quick and accurate torque response is available. Moreover, by using in-wheel motors, all the wheels can be controlled independently.
We developed an original EV (`FPEV2-Kanon') which has direct-drive in-wheel motors, active front and rear steering systems, and tire side-force sensors.
Novel control methods for the EV have been proposed, such as advanced safety control, driving comfort enhancement, and range extension control systems.
Currently, we are developing a next-generation test EV and conducting many collaboration projects with car industries.


Electric vehicle with in-wheel motors

Literature

1)Kazuaki Saiki, Atsushi Hara, Koichi Sakata, and Hiroshi Fujimoto, "A Study on High-Speed and High-Precision Tracking Control of Large-Scale Stage Using Perfect Tracking Control Method Based on Multirate Feedforward Control," IEEE Trans. on Industrial Electronics, vol.57, no.4, pp. 1393--1400, 2010
2) Hiroshi Fujimoto, "RRO Compensation of Hard Disk Drives with Multirate Repetitive Perfect Tracking Control," IEEE Trans. Industrial Electronics, vol. 56, no. 10, pp. 3825--3831, 2009
3) Hiroshi Fujimoto, "Short-Span Seeking Control of Hard Disk Drives with Multirate Vibration Suppression PTC," IEEJ Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Engineering, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 184--191, 2009
4) Hiroshi Fujimoto and Bin Yao, "Multirate Adaptive Robust Control for Discrete-time Non-minimum Phase Systems and Application to Linear Motors," IEEE/ASME Trans. Mechatronics, vol. 10, no. 4, pp. 371--377, 2005


1) Hiroshi Fujimoto and Shinsuke Sato: "Pitching Control Method Based on Quick Torque Response for Electric Vehicle," International Power Electronics Conference, pp. 801--806, 2010
2) Kiyoshi Fujii, Hiroshi Fujimoto, Makoto Kamachi, and Hiroaki Yoshida, "Experimental verification of traction control for electric vehicle based on slip ratio estimation without vehicle speed detection," JSAE Review of Automotive Engineers, vol. 29, pp. 369--372, 2008
3) Hiroshi Fujimoto, Akio Tsumasaka, and Toshihiko Noguchi, "Vehicle Stability Control of Small Electric Vehicle on Snowy Road," JSAE Review of Automotive Engineers, vol. 27, no. 2, pp.279--286, 2006

Other Activities

Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan (IEEJ)
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Society of Instrument and Control Engineers (SICE)
Robotics Society of Japan (RSJ)
Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan (JSAE)

Future Plan

This laboratory was opened in The University of Tokyo in 2010.
Fujimoto-Lab is working together with Hori-Lab.
Please read the above description for our future research plans.

Messages to Students

We are also researching on numerical control machine tools, advanced inverter and motor control with a multirate pulse-width modulation method,
visual servoing for robots and helicopters, and so on.
All members of the laboratory are encouraged to enjoy their research activities, submit and present their papers
to international journals and conferences, and collaborate with other industries and academics.