Our day started off bright and early with everyone preparing to board the bus at 7 a.m., but like all the other days, it was worth the activities to come!
The first stop was JAXA’s (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) Tsukuba Space Center, where we explored the astronaut training facilities and mission control center.
Then, we went to the Geological Museum and saw a plethora of crystals, rocks, fossils. A demonstration from a staff member brought light to the ridges and trenches caused by plate tectonic movement and continental drifts.
After that, we actually rode the bus to a local mall where we enjoyed diverse cuisines and spending some yen. Attached to the mall, CYBERDYNE Studios was our next destination. We learned about the advanced technologies the company has created, including their main project, the HAL. This device is attached to the desired limb and uses bio electric signals from the brain to sense the intention to move limbs that are typically paralyzed. There are similar devices used for body support, like one that reduces back stress by 40% when lifting heavy objects. We see these devices employed in rehabilitation hospitals, natural disaster recovery, and caregiving communities.
Here, we can see that the HAL needs only the intention to move to work as it’s powered by signals it reads from the brain.
After CYBERDYNE, we headed over to our final stop, the NIED (National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience). There, we learned how the researchers simulate natural disasters that typically occur in Japan, and, in doing so, aim to create natural disaster resilience throughout the country. Our day concluded in a two-hour train ride back to Yokohama, where we ate dinner and then headed back to the hotel for some much needed rest.