Hiraku Sakamoto, Ph.D.

Hiraku Sakamoto, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Tokyo Institute of Technology,
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,
Structural Dynamics Design Laboratory
2-12-1 #I3-17 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan
E-mail: hsakamoto (at) mech.titech.ac.jp

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Structural dynamics. Geometrically nonlinear finite element methods and other computational structural analysis methods. Space structures design, especially design of gossamer systems (membrane and cable space structures). Attitude determination and control systems for spacecraft. Systems engineering and project management for small systems/projects.

 

EDUCATION

Ph.D., Aerospace Engineering Sciences (December 2004)
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, Boulder, Colorado, USA
Thesis: “Dynamic Wrinkle Reduction Strategies for Membrane Structures.”
Advisor: K. C. Park

M.S., Aeronautics and Astronautics Engineering (March 2001)
UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO, Tokyo, Japan
Thesis: “Research on Redundancy Concept in Inflatable Space Structures.”
Advisor: M. C. Natori (Institute of Space and Astronautical Science)

B.S., Mechanical Engineering Synthesis (March 1999)
UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO, Tokyo, Japan
Thesis: “Development of Soft Actuators Using Conducting Plastic Polyanilin.”
Advisor: Masayuki Nakao

 

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Assistant Professor (April 2008 - present)
TOKYO INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, Tokyo, Japan
- Graduate School of Engineering, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- Structural Dynamics Design Laboratory

Postdoctoral Research Fellow (April 2007 - March 2008) supproted by JSPS
NIHON UNIVERSITY, Funabashi, Chiba, Japan
- Department of Aerospace Engineering, Nakamura-Miyazaki Laboratory
- Advisor: Professor Yasuyuki Miyazaki

Postdoctoral Research Fellow (June 2006 - March 2007) supproted by JSPS
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Space Systems Laboratory
- Advisor: Professor David Miller
- Developed an algorithm and experimentally demonstrated the formation generation using two SPHERES (small satellites) aboard the International Space Station.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow (April 2005 - May 2006)
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, Boulder, Colorado, USA
Analyzed the dynamics of membrane space structures with Professor K. C. Park, supported by a fellowship from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). The research focused on control-structure interactions in solar sails and large space reflectors. In addition, developed an attitude determination and control system for a small satellite, CX-1, at Colorado Space Grant Consortium.

Research Associate (January 2005-March 2005)
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, Boulder, Colorado, USA
Researched membrane space structures with Professor K. C. Park at Center for Aerospace Structures. Enhanced vibrational controller performance in membrane structures by tailoring the structural design. Taught graduate students in a dynamics class.

Graduate Research Assistant, doctoral student (January 2002-December 2004)
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, Boulder, Colorado, USA
Designed membrane space structures and their vibrational controllers. Analyzed the dynamic behavior of membranes using a geometrically nonlinear finite element method on MATLAB. The research was in collaboration with Professor Sergio Pellegrino at Cambridge University, UK, and was supported by the research grant from NASA Langley Research Center.

Graduate Student (April 1999-December 2001)
UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO, Tokyo, Japan
Proposed a new multi-cellular space inflatable (balloon) structures, and analyzed theoretically and computationally their static bending. Showed that the redundant space structures are robust to local failures. Used Brazier’s shell theory and a finite element method in C Language.

Undergraduate Senior Student (April 1998-March 1999)
UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO, Tokyo, Japan
Designed and constructed a soft bimorph actuator using conducting plastic, polyanilin. Developed a new casting procedure of polyanilin after its polymerization, and increased bending amplitudes and a cycle life of the actuator.

 

GRANT

April 2010 - present: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

July 2008 - March 2011: Strategic Research Development Grant, Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.
Research project titile: "Research on Advanced Lightweight Structure System."

April 2008 - March 2010: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (Start-up), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

April 2008 - March 2009: Research Grant for New Assistant Professors, School of Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology.

April 2007 - March 2008: Research Fellowships for Young Scientists (PD), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.
Research project title: "Simultaneous Design of Structural/Control Systems for Membrane and Cable Space Structures."
Research location: Nihon University, Chiba, Japan

April 2005 - March 2007: Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research Abroad, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.
Research project title: "Structural/Control Design of Membrane Space Structures Based on Dynamic Analysis of Wrinkled Membranes."
Research location: University of Colorado at Boulder, CO, USA, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MA, USA

 

AWARD

Eighth Student Satellite Design Contest in Japan: Special Award from the Review Board (October 2000)
H. Sakamoto and N. Takeichi, “Earth appreciation system using interactive digital broadcasting.”

 

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), Member.
Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers (JSME), Member.
Japan Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences (JSASS), Member.
University Space Engineering Consortium (UNISEC), Member.

 

LANGUAGE SKILL

Japanese: native
English: proficient

 

PUBLICATIONS and PRESENTATIONS

---> Please see the "Publications" page.

 

REFERENCES

Available upon request.