Tomoaki YANO was born in Wakayama, Japan, on June 15, 1952.　He received　his B.E(1976) and M.E(1979) degrees in electrical engineering from Kobe University.　In 1979, he joined Mechanical Engineering Laboratory.　He studied the transmission for a engine/flywheel hybrid car and the automated sewing system.　He is now studying the wall climbing robot and the spherical actuator.