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This past July, the Tohoku University Engineering Summer Programme (TESP) welcomed some 50 graduate students and researchers from partner universities worldwide for three weeks of lectures and workshops.

Anchored as always by Robotics, this year's programme also featured courses in Wireless Power Transfer and Materials Engineering.

The Robotics Course showcased pioneering work in haptic interface, human-robot interaction, neuro robotics, molecular robotics and tough robotics for disaster rescue. Professor Kazuya Yoshida's lecture on space robotics introduced his team's contribution to the government's Moonshot Programme - an ambitious project developing modular AI robot systems to establish a lunar outpost by 2050. Rather than sending fully assembled robots, their innovative approach proposes dispatching basic modules for flexible on-site assembly.

In hands-on laboratory sessions, students built wheeled mobile rovers for lunar exploration, focusing on sensing, navigation and AI technologies. "My favourite part has been the labs for sure, because I love the applicative aspects," said Alessio Borgi from Sapienza University of Rome. "We have a very interesting group too, not only from different countries but also different engineering backgrounds, like mechanical, robotics and machine learning. So we're like a team that truly complements itself, which is very nice."

Professor Yasuhisa Hirata, who is also working on a project for the Moonshot Programme, is developing AI robots that autonomously learn, adapt to their environment, evolve in intelligence and function alongside humans. In his TESP session on "Robotics for Human Assistance," the students explored the use of robots to enhance human capabilities in nursing and healthcare settings.

"I'm studying biomedical engineering and we don't have a lot of courses for biomedical engineering in robotics at my university. So this programme has been an amazing opportunity to go into the field and have some hands-on experience in robotics," said Mireia Rico Santana from the Technical University of Denmark, whose lab group is building a sumo robot that can sense when to attack and defend. "It's very interactive and we're enjoying it a lot."

Lu Zhengyang, from Delft University of Technology, also appreciated the diversity of the lectures. "Today we learnt about haptic devices, which relates to biology and how we feel, and there were other lectures that went into more societal and social issues. I think as engineers we also need to be aware of the social and human side of technology."

In the Wireless Power Transfer Course (WPT), led by Professors Noriharu Suematsu and Keisuke Konno, the students heard lectures on electromagnetics and antennas, as well as microwave circuits for wireless communication. They also toured several facilities at the Research Institute of Electrical Communication, including an anechoic chamber designed to completely absorb reflections of sound or electromagnetic waves.

In the lab, the participants worked alongside Tohoku University students to implement practical wireless power transfer models by fabricating and assembling basic components such as rectifiers and antennas. They successfully implemented the WPT system and tested it using light-emitting diode (LED) and melody IC loads.

The Materials Engineering Course comprised three specialised components: Bio-materials Engineering, which explored clinically applicable biomaterials through polymer chemistry and cell biology; Green Material Engineering, focusing on composite materials with enhanced properties; and Structural Materials Engineering, led by Professor Kyosuke Yoshimi.

In his lab, the students were divided into groups to design alloys with iron, nickel or titanium. "We had a small contest to determine which alloy was most attractive as a structural material by identifying phases, density, microstructure, hardness, strength and ductility of their designed alloys," said Yoshimi. "We also judged their beauty. Depending on the composition or element combinations, some materials can show beautiful microstructure, and students often get quite excited when they see it for the first time."

Beyond academic pursuits, the programme included field trips. Students visited Matsushima - renowned as one of Japan's three most scenic views - and Iwate Prefecture, where they sailed along the Geibikei Gorge and experienced Zazen meditation at Chūson-ji, a temple dating back to the 12th century.

Traditional Japanese cultural workshops, including a tea ceremony "sado," provided further immersion.

"Although the lectures and labs widened my views on robotics, I feel like I have also personally gained a lot through the cultural experiences," said Serena Trovalusci, who is studying at Sapienza University of Rome. "I really enjoyed wearing the kimono and preparing the matcha in the traditional way with the whisk. It was such a special experience, and the environment was very nice too. I felt like I was in a Japanese movie!"

To learn more about TESP and other exchange programmes offered by the School of Engineering, please visit: https://www.ied.eng.tohoku.ac.jp/en/