Former GPK MOGI student researched the navigation of jumping robots on asteroids in Japan

Gábor Kovács made his master degree in mechatronics engineering at BME Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (GPK). They received his PhD degree at Chuo University in Japan, with his study focusing on image processing. Interview.

How did you find the opportunity to study in Japan? 

 When I finished my master studies, I travelled to Japan with a friend of mine for a month. I became so keen on Japan, that I asked at the Department, whether there are any scholarships to the county. Professor Péter Korondi, former head of MOGI (BME GPK Department of Mechatronics, Optics, and Mechanical Engineering Informatics), suggested me to contact with the Chuo University. He was a visiting professor in Japan in 2006 with the same scholarship. My supervisor, professor Kunii had been professor Korondi’s fellow during that period.

The applicant has to apply with a research plan (I would have liked to work with image processing) and looking for a lab independently. It is an advantage at the application if the chosen place already knows about the applicant. During the one-year process of application, I worked as a test engineer at Thyssenkrupp.

How would you describe the Japanese study program?

Chuo University is a private university in an excellent financial condition. In Japan, the master thesis is a result of your two-year research in a lab. The education is much more practical than here, but on the other hand, BME-GPK students are outstandingly demanded.

What did you work on during your doctoral research?

My research is in connection with small exploration rovers, to be sent on foreign celestial bodies. These rovers have to be controlled in various ways. For instance, with remote control, the Moon is easily reachable in a few seconds. But between Earth and Mars, it takes some minutes, so they are out of reach in real-time. Thus, the robot can navigate itself with computer vision. From the picture, it has to recognize obstacles, for instance, if there is a rock: the rover has to realize that it cannot cope with the rock and evade. The rover does not have to work autonomously; we can also give a destination. But it has to avoid danger.

My other topic was small, jumping robots. The Japanese space agency successfully set these to an asteroid. In the case of lower gravitation, it does worth running by jumping – with this topic, only a few research articles were written so far.

Did you also have to create the rover?

I had fellows, who were responsible for developing the prototype; I only took part in the software-related and image processing tasks.

Did you have cultural difficulties regarding engineering attitude?

Yes, but not much. Japanese society admires authority and has a much stricter hierarchy. The mentality is that you do not have to contradict to the professor; avoid raising new issues, you have to behave humbly. Professor Péter Korondi suggested that professor Kunii should be my supervisor, because he is supportive and helpful, handling the student-lecturer relation more like a European way.

How much stricter, or selective is the Japanese educational system?

Much more people leave university with a degree because matura and university entrance exams have a more significant gatekeeper role. Education costs a lot, so they handle it as an investment. But only the most motivated students, with scholar ambitions, stay for PhD. There were no other expectations, like attending or giving lectures. The scholarship covered not only the tuition fee but also living costs, more or less.

Seven to ten researchers get this opportunity from Hungary. In my case, the board, considering my scholarship, was decidedly happy, that I did not come with a background of a Japanese major, which bear the most significant share within the applicants. Applicants with medicine or engineer background are extraordinary. The scholarship itself is for two years, with a possible extension for the time of the studies, in my case, four years in total. Application is not only possible for PhD but also master studies. But in case of delay, the scholarship cannot be prolonged.

Did you experience any advantages or disadvantages there as a European?

Though I have a JLPT N2 language certificate from Japanese, considered as a superior level exam, still, a European is treated differently, with its good and bad features. If I started a conversation in Japanese with anyone, the other intended to reply in English even without language knowledge.

On the other hand, I could loosen the rigid informal regulations, and less complicated politeness formulas were expected, due to my non-Japanese look.

What are you going to do from now on? Are you going to research at MOGI?

I did not decide, so far, and also the COVID-19 situation is not likely to promote seeking for a job. I received warm welcomes from MOGI, SZTAKI (former MTA, current Loránd Eötvös Research Network, Institute for Computer Science and Control), and also from the industry. But, in each case, I would like to keep in touch with MOGI and Chuo University, and the latter indicated that I could join in specific future projects.

Would you still say yes, to go out to Japan?

Yes. I would suggest scholarship the most, to those who took part in researches during their master studies, wrote an article, or contributed in a project. On the Chuo University, they require a much higher degree of autonomy.

You arrived back to Hungary at the end of March, during the COVID-19 pandemic. How do the Japanese handle the situation, as you perceive?

In Japan, there was no panic at all. Shops and tourist attractions kept being open, only museums and lookout points closed. Currently, I am in a self-quarantine, but lacking symptoms (the interview was done on 3 April – Ed.).