In our course, we experience the underbrush-cutting of forest at Takamaruyama in Kamikatsu town. From this experience and the lecture by the field staffs, we can recognize the pleasure and hardness of the environment preservation.

Photograph of laser micro-machining laboratory (clean room). Femtosecond pulsed laser beam (This laser emits the intense light pulses whose duration is far shorter than that of cameras’ flashlights.) is irradiated to glass materials and semiconductors to explore the possibility of laser-micro-processing.

The micro-structures fabricated by laser irradiation are observed by a scanning electron microscope (Common facility of our faculty). This equipment enables us to observe the micro-nano structures.

This electric-powered wheelchair equips ultrasonic obstacle sensors and semi-automatic drive assist system. In normal state, wheelchair follows the passenger operation. When the obstacle approaches, the drive assist system intervenes the operation to avoid a collision. We try to optimize the control gain of the drive assist system by using computer simulation and real machine.

In our laboratory, we study about the welfare social infrastructure for visually handicapped person. For example, we investigate the color sets of the tactile block and surrounding road surface to improve visibility for low vision people. Various combinations of colors and brightness contrasts are tested by cooperation of volunteer’s people with low vision.