Controlling friction to improve machine performance

What comes to mind when you hear the word “friction”? You might think of “friction between countries” or “interpersonal friction,” which carry negative connotations. However, in my field of mechanical engineering, friction is not necessarily bad. In fact, essential components, such as brakes and clutches, rely on friction. My research focuses on how to control friction effectively within machines. While this work may seem behind the scenes in mechanical engineering, high-performance machines cannot exist without friction control. I deeply love this field of “tribology” (the study of friction), which supports machines’ advancement and energy efficiency from the backstage.

URL

http://www.elem.me.kyoto-u.ac.jp/index-j.html (in Japanese)