Masaki YOSHIKAWA
- Posted
- Tue, 10 Feb 2026
Masaki YOSHIKAWA | 1st year master student, School of Fundamental Science and Engineering
- Visiting period: Sept., 2025 to Dec., 2025
- Visiting university: Technical University of Munich
- Visiting country and region: Munich, German
This dispatch was carried out as part of the Super Global University (SGU) Initiative. I stayed for three months at the laboratory of Professor Gordon Cheng at the Technical University of Munich in Germany, where I engaged in research activities. During the stay, I set my research theme as motion transfer between robots with different structures using deep learning.
There were two main reasons why I wished to participate in this overseas program. The first was that I wanted to test how far my research abilities and adaptability could be applied by placing myself in a new research environment. The second was that I wanted to improve my ability to communicate professionally in English to become a researcher or engineer who can work globally in the future. This program became a valuable opportunity to achieve these goals.
Prof. Gordon Cheng
In this research, I investigated a method for learning motion correspondences between robots with different structures using randomly generated motion data. Through this approach, the goal was to transfer motions learned by one robot to another robot.
First, fundamental experiments were conducted in a simulation environment, and it was confirmed that motion transfer was possible in an object-picking task. Subsequently, I also worked on validation using real robots. However, due to limitations in the duration of my stay, I could not obtain sufficient results. I am currently continuing this research after returning to Japan, and I plan to further advance the research outcomes by conducting additional verification, including experiments with real robots.
Supervisor who supported me
During my stay, I mainly lived in accommodation rented through Airbnb, and I stayed in a hotel only for the final ten days. Since supermarket opening hours were relatively short in the local area, I made it a habit to buy groceries in bulk on weekends.
At the laboratory, there was daily interaction in which members had lunch together at the university cafeteria, known as the Mensa, followed by conversations over coffee after meals. Through this time, I was able to deepen my relationships with laboratory members, and it also became a good habit for maintaining a steady rhythm in my activities.
In addition, I participated in events such as Oktoberfest and Christmas markets, where I was able to directly experience the local culture. While traveling, I actively interacted with travelers from other countries. I also had opportunities to have meals together with them, and it was a great pleasure to be able to practically apply the English skills I had developed through daily discussions in the laboratory.
Oktoberfest
Impact on Future Career Path
The host laboratory included researchers specializing in a wide range of fields, such as deep learning, robot control, and sensor design, and the nationalities and backgrounds of the members were highly diverse. In such an environment, the experience of being able to discuss with anyone in English and collaboratively advance research was extremely stimulating and meaningful.
Through this experience, my desire has grown even stronger to become a researcher or engineer who possesses knowledge across a broad range of fields, rather than remaining within a single specialized area, and who can be active in international settings.
Laboratory members
Conclusion
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Super Global University (SGU) Initiative for the substantial support provided for this study abroad, including financial assistance. Thanks to this support, I was able to undertake this overseas program and focus on my research activities throughout the duration of my stay. I hope that, through this program, many more students will have opportunities to gain valuable experiences through overseas study and research and to broaden their international perspectives.
Surroundings of the university