This short-term research exchange was conducted with the primary goal of building and strengthening my international research network. From June 22 to June 30, 2025, I visited key institutions and participated in academic activities across the United States, including a visit to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), participation in the Manufacturing Science and Engineering Conference (MSEC), and laboratory visits at the University of Florida.
Travel Itinerary
June 22: Flight from Narita, Tokyo to Washington D.C.
June 23: Visit to NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) June 24: Flight to Greenville, South Carolina
June 25–26: Participation and research presentation at MSEC June 27: Flight to Gainesville, Florida
June 27–28: Visit to University of Florida, Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering June 28: Return flight to Tokyo
On June 23, I visited NIST, the national metrology institute of the United States, located near Washington D.C. The visit provided a rare and valuable opportunity to observe and learn about the most advanced measurement technologies currently in development. I engaged in discussions with several researchers and engineers. Team reader, Dr. H Hendricks gave us detailed explanations about NIST’s mission and organizational structure, the latest developments in pressure metrology including highly accurate manometers and piston gauges, and a new pressure standard under development known as the fixed length optical cavity (FLOC). I was also introduced to NIST’s capabilities in refractive index measurement using optical frequency combs, as well as their calibration systems for large-scale laser-based distance measurement devices. Furthermore, I observed their high-precision coordinate measuring machines (CMMs), micro-CMMs, and a newly developed ultra-precise caliper system. The experimental environments at NIST are extremely well-designed, with sophisticated vibration and acoustic control systems. From our side, I also gave a 30-minute presentation introducing my own research and received insightful feedback. I was especially impressed by how NIST builds its metrology systems on solid theoretical foundations, and by the excellence of their instrumentation. It was clear that interdisciplinary teams, consisting of experts in mechanical engineering, physics, and metrology, are working together to develop seemingly simple but highly accurate measurement systems.
From June 25 to 26, I participated in the Manufacturing Science and Engineering Conference (MSEC) held in Greenville, South Carolina. I delivered a presentation in the session titled “Advances in System-level Modeling and Analysis in Manufacturing Towards Sustainability.” My talk, entitled “Concept of Error Compensation for Non-orthogonality in Two-Axis Displacement Measurement System Utilizing Single Grating Scale and Littrow Configuration,” lasted for 25 minutes and drew several questions from the audience. Among them were inquiries about the potential to extend the proposed two-dimensional measurement principle to three dimensions and about the practical challenges involved in implementing the concept, such as temperature effects and the accuracy of the grating scale. After the presentation, I continued discussions with several researchers and also had the opportunity to become acquainted with professors, Prof. Hai Xiao, from Clemson University and other institutions. Although MSEC is a large conference, it is structured into around twenty smaller technical sessions, which allows for meaningful and focused interactions. The session I attended had an emphasis on 3D printing technologies, and I found several of the studies on the processing characteristics of additive manufacturing to be particularly interesting. Many of the presentations focused on process modeling and analysis, reflecting the direction of research in this field. For me, it was the first time participating in MSEC, and I found it to be an excellent opportunity to build
connections with researchers at universities around the world as well as U.S.. I believe that continued participation in this conference will be beneficial for expanding my professional network. During the conference, I also had a chance to visit the BMW Training Center, which was an informative and inspiring experience.
On June 27 and 28, I visited the University of Florida in Gainesville. As one of the three largest campuses in the United States, it has a student population of around 68,000 and a vast campus that I was introduced to during a comprehensive tour. I learned that the university hosts world-leading research centers for butterflies and bats, and that aerospace research is particularly active due to the geographical advantages. My main purpose was to visit laboratories in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. First, I visited the lab of Professor Hitomi Yamaguchi Greenslet, who specializes in magnetic field-assisted polishing. This technology enables the precise polishing of internal and complex geometries, and is applied to components used in rockets and to medical devices such as stents. Professor Greenslet has developed original magnetic field-assisted polishing machines tailored for specific applications, and we had a stimulating discussion about potential collaborations, especially since my own research focuses on the measurement of complex surfaces. I then visited the lab of Professor Yong Huang, who conducts cutting-edge research in 3D bioprinting. His group is developing systems capable of printing soft materials and living cells into three-dimensional structures. These techniques are being applied to create complex biological models, such as mimicking brain structures to investigate the relationship between helmet design and brain injury prevention. I found the versatility of these technologies to be particularly striking, as they can potentially be applied to other materials such as metals or ceramics. I also toured the university’s student fabrication facilities, which are among the most extensive I have seen. Students can use a wide range of machining tools, learn to design and test electronic circuits, and build experimental equipment for their research projects. Compared to similar facilities in Japanese universities, the scale and diversity of the equipment were exceptional. To foster student engagement in manufacturing, the university also supports participation in Formula SAE racing competitions.
In summary, I was able to present my recent research on the development of a new measurement principle at MSEC and receive valuable feedback regarding its practical implementation. The experience also helped me recognize the importance of understanding metrological standards and high-precision instrumentation, which I was able to study in depth at NIST. Furthermore, the visits to the University of Florida allowed me to see how measurement technologies are being applied in advanced manufacturing and biomedical research, and to explore possibilities for future collaboration. Though the exchange lasted only one week, each day was filled with intense learning and valuable experiences. I am deeply grateful to FUTI for their generous support, which made this rewarding research exchange possible.