Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) technology, based on the semiconductor process, enables sensors and other key components that are small in size to be fabricated cheaply. MEMS can
be integrated with circuits which enables functions such as signal processing and communication. Although there are so many sensors available to living beings, only a limited number are available
for use by robots. MEMS integrated with circuits has the potential to realize advanced robotics and mechatronics through combinations with AI and other technologies. Sensors that can recognize their environment as 3D imagers and proximity sensors are important not only for autonomous cars but also for advanced robots, and there are many other related devices, such as actuators and advanced sensors. The special issue focuses on the MEMS applications for robotics and mechatronics. Various papers pertaining to these topics are welcomed.

The “process chain” concept for multiple integrated manufacturing processes has been attracting attention in recent years in the manufacturing field. Laser-based processes in particular, which can be used not only as individual manufacturing processes but also in combination with others to develop new ones because of its high flexibility, are actively being studied in a number of specialized fields.
Most of the laser technologies that are practically usable involve heat, which can be used for thermal processing to change surface properties or for removal processing. Moreover, in recent years, lasers have been used as heat source for additive manufacturing and applied to a non-thermal processes using ultra-short pulsed lasers.
This special issue will include papers that present the latest advances as well as current challenges in laser-based/assisted manufacturing. Related topics of interest include but are not limited to the following.
* Fundamentals aspects (modeling, simulation, dynamics, etc.)
* Micro-/nano-fabrication (micro-/nano-patterning and structuring, etc.)
* Surface treatment (modification, annealing, etc.)
* Additive manufacturing
* Industrial and medical applications
We cordially invite you to submit papers on these topics to share your achievements and experience with our many interested readers and researchers.

Brain machine/computer interface (BMI/BCI) technologies are based on analyzing brain activity to control machines and to support the communication of commands and messages. To sense brain
activities, a functional NIRS and electroencephalogram (EEG) are often employed. The devices have been developed to sense brain activities. Analysis techniques and algorithms for the NIRS and EEG
signals have also been created. Moreover, human support systems in the form of BMI/BCI applications have been developed. In the field of rehabilitation, BMI/BCI is used to control environment control systems and electric wheelchairs. In medicine, BMI/BCI is used to assist in communication for patient support. In industry, BMI/BCI is used to analyze KANSEI and develop novel entertainment games. This special issue focuses on BMI/BCI devices, techniques, and applications that support humanity. Various papers pertaining to but not limited to the following topics are welcomed: devices for EEG sensing; devices for BMI/BCI, EEG-BCI, and EEG-BMI; machine learning for BMI/BCI; deep learning for BMI/BCI; BMI and robotics; brain-inspired systems; EEG analysis techniques; fNIRS signal analysis; cognitive science for BMI/BCI; brain activity analysis; and novel approaches to BMI/BCI.

The Science Council of Japan’s 2008 Report, “Aiming for a Zero Traffic Accidents Society,” states that “it is necessary to establish various driver-assisting technologies on the assumption that people make mistakes,” “for advanced driving-assisting technologies, coordination between human operation and machine assistance, and social acceptability need to be evaluated,” and “new driving assistance by introduction of robotic technology and application of limited automatic driving should be considered in the future.” A wide array robotic technologies are expected to contribute to, not only providing intelligence to passenger cars and transport vehicles and their advance but also activities creating a rich future for the transportation of people and materials. Over the past decade, researchers and engineers have made many attempts to achieve this. Now, looking toward the Tokyo Olympics, we call for papers for JRM’s special issue, “Innovative Robotics and Mechatronics Technology of Modern Passenger Cars for Zeroing Traffic Accidents.”

The accuracy of a three-dimensional (3D) positioning system can ultimately be evaluated by measuring a 3D vector between command and actual end effector positions at arbitrary points over the entire workspace. This is a simple and yet challenging metrological problem. The motion accuracy of a machine tool is traditionally evaluated on an axis-to-axis basis, with every error motion of every axis independently measured as a one-dimensional measurement in a different setup. Research efforts have offered several new measurement technologies toward the ultimate goal of 3D position measurement over the entire workspace. Lately, to orientate a tool or a workpiece, more machine tools have rotary axes. The evaluation of both translational and angular error motions of rotary axes is essential. The application of this type of new 3D position/orientation measuring technique is not limited to a machine tool or a coordinate measuring machine (CMM). The applications of an industrial robot could be significantly expanded if its absolute 3D positioning accuracy were guaranteed to a certain level over its entire workspace. New applications for such a robot could include machining, but a new accuracy measurement scheme would be essential.
This special issue covers technical and academic efforts related to the accuracy evaluation of precision machinery. Various machines can be covered, including machine tools, CMMs, and industrial robots. New measuring instruments or schemes will be presented to evaluate various accuracies of a machine (e.g., volumetric, dynamic motion, and machining accuracy), thermal and environmental influences, and long-term performance deterioration. We are also interested in new and unique industrial applications.

The design of machine tools strongly depends on the materials chosen. Increasing demands placed on machine tools require the joint optimization of materials and design, which in turn drives the
development of new materials in the field. Digital technologies finally creating a digital shadow of the machine in development also enable the co-development of materials and design with dynamic,
thermal, and long-term influences and behaviors taking into consideration, and this co-development enables in turn state and health monitoring to increase the performance of the machine tool to its
full potential. Meanwhile, newly developed concepts in materials, including metamaterials with previously unknown and unexploited properties, become available for application.
This special issue focusing on the design of machine tools and machine tool elements driven by advanced materials invites papers in the following areas:
– Applications of polymer-based materials, composite materials (e.g., fiber reinforced materials), ceramics, porous materials, biological materials, etc.
– Metamaterial design and application
– CAE-based design and methodological design
– Topology optimization
– Manufacturing technology
– Evaluation methods for elements and machines
– Design technologies for lightweight, high-stiffness, high-damping, thermally-stable structures
– New structural and /or functional materials
– Structure- and material-related state and health monitoring
– Material behavior in typical machine tool applications
– Integration of functionalities
– Effects of additive manufacturing

Japan has infrastructure facilities, including bridges, tunnels, roads, etc., intensively built during the period of rapid economic growth. These facilities are naturally aging rapidly now. As the percentage of facilities fifty years old or older is expected to increase at an accelerating pace over the next twenty years, it is necessary that those infrastructures aging simultaneously be strategically maintained and updated those infrastructures aging. At present, Japan has about 699,000 bridges and about 10,300 tunnels.
Under the existing conditions, however, almost all of the inspections of infrastructure facilities depend on a labor-intensive approach. If this continues, inspecting all the infrastructure facilities will take too long, resulting in the risk of the collapse of facilities before their inspection and maintenance are completed. In response to this, there is now a growing need for significantly more efficient infrastructure maintenance and inspection utilizing robotics and mechatronics technologies. A few projects have already been launched.
Focusing on systems that are under development or have recently been developed for infrastructure maintenance and inspection, this special issue is calling for papers on robotics and mechatronics that would contribute to such technologies. In addition to research papers, development reports are also welcomed.

As social robot research has advanced, the interaction distance between people and robots has decreased. Indeed, although we once needed to keep a certain amount of physical distance from traditional industrial robots for safety, we now interact with social robots in such close proximity that we can actually touch. Since social robots are at work in our daily environments, it is essential that our designs keep close interactions with humans in mind, so this special issue focuses on close humanrobot interactions. As robotics, engineering, and behavioral sciences all fall within its scope, papers related to sensing, actuation, control mechanisms, haptics, social touch interaction, affective interaction, conversational interaction, verbal/non-verbal behavior design, cognitive science, behavioral science, etc. are welcome. Conceptual papers focusing on new ideas and/or methods are welcomed for this special issue as well.

The properties of mechanical materials depend not only on its chemical components but also on micro/nano structures of its surface and interior. Attempts have been made in recent years to develop new surface/material functions by means of mechanical processes. For example, technologies to control various characteristics such as friction, water repellency, and optical properties have been developed by constructing micro/nano periodic structures on the surfaces of materials. Since these properties depend on the geometry of the surface morphology, micro/nano fabrication process can produce a variety of properties. This indicates that the surface properties and material properties of portions of the materials can be controlled to reach the optimal conditions required by machine product design. It is expected that this technology leads to advanced production of products integrating design, manufacturing and materials in an organic way. Here, we call materials and surfaces with their properties arbitrary controlled in accordance with machine design as the tailored functional materials and surfaces.
This special issue features various studies and reports related to tailored functional materials and surfaces. We call for a wide range of papers on, for example, a new process for developing new surface functions, a material technology to freely modify the properties of portions, a machining technology to locally control a surface function and a design technology to utilize the materials having a combination of these properties.

[in Japanese]
近年のロボットメカトロニクス技術の高度化複雑化に伴って，一つの研究室で完結することが難しくなりつつあります．そこで，大学等の研究機関では人と資財を集中するための組織として研究センターを設立して研究開発を進めています．本特集では，大学だけではなく企業や官公庁の研究機関の研究センターの最先端の研究成果を世界に発信する企画です．内容は研究センターの紹介のための概要１ページ（掲載料無料）とJournal paper またはDevelopment report を２～３編で構成します．なお，論文審査はこれまでの規程通りに行います．研究センター関係者のご投稿をお待ちしています．

[in English]
Recent advancements and sophistications in robotics and mechatronics technologies have created challenges for individual research groups to complete their work independently. Under these circumstances, research institutes, such as universities, have established research centers to promote advanced and sophisticated technological innovations by centralizing humans and material assets. This special issue is planned to globally expose the cutting-edge research outcomes from these research centers in universities as well as companies and governmental agencies. The contents of this special issue will consist of one-page brief introductions to these research centers (page-charge free) and of a few journal papers and development reports from each listed organization. The papers and reports submitted to this special issue will be peer-reviewed base on the regular rules of the journal. All members affiliated with such research centers are hereby cordially invited to contribute papers or reports to this special issue of the Journal of Robotics and Mechatronics.
<PDF>: https://www.fujipress.jp/main/wp-content/uploads/JRM_CFP_Center_E.pdf

The demand for high-precision machining of difficult-to-machine materials such as hardened steel, ceramics, Ti alloys, and carbon fiber reinforced plastic have increased across various industries such as in the automotive, aircraft, optical, and communication industries, as well as in life and medical sciences. Some difficult-to-machine materials can be reliably machined using deterministic precision cutting processes. On the contrary, hard and brittle materials such as ceramics, carbides, hardened steel molds, glassy materials, or semiconductor materials have to be machined using precision abrasive technologies with super abrasives of diamond or cBN. However, the machining of high-precision components and their molds/dies using abrasive processes is much more difficult owing to their complex and non-deterministic nature and textured surface. In this sense, precision grinding and polishing are primarily used to generate high-quality and functional components that are usually made of difficult-to-machine materials. The surface quality achievable through precision grinding and polishing becomes more important for reducing machining time and cost.
This special issue covers the advanced abrasive technology of grinding, lapping, polishing, jet polishing, magnetic machining technologies, vibration assisted technologies, and energy-assisted abrasive technologies.

Miniaturization of computers and electronic devices as well as advancements in processing algorithms have enabled the development and practical use of several wearable devices. Other devices such as power assist robots for reducing the burden of work or wearable sensors for measuring physical activity and health condition of people and animals also provide various uses and are available in several forms. In Japan, Society 5.0 is attracting significant attention as one of the important technologies for a human-centered society that achieves both economic development and solutions to social problems. A society that can benefit from wearable devices anytime and anywhere is thus being realized. In this special issue, we focus on robotics and mechatronics technology for next generation wearable devices to realize a progressive society; the technologies in focus include wearable systems and their principles and fabrication, AI, IoT, and related technologies of practical use.

Always welcome

Cutting technologies have been widely applied to the manufacturing of products for the aircraft, automobile, medical, energy, and information industries. Cutting operations are generally evaluated in terms of their material removal rates and surface qualities. Material properties have also been improved in material science and engineering. Because workpiece materials have become difficult to cut, scientific work should be done to achieve high performance in difficult-to-cut materials, such as nickel-based super alloy. The cutting technologies for brittle materials require high quality for medical or information devices. Products with complex shapes have recently been required for manufactured products with multi-axis machinings in several industries. Therefore, cutting operations should be well organized with controls, simulations, and monitoring. This special issue invites papers in the following areas:
•cutting mechanisms, including chip formation, temperature, and tool damage, including wear and failure control of machining qualities, such as accuracy, surface finish, residual stress, and affected layers
•model-based cutting simulations in turning, milling, drilling, etc.
•micro- and nano-scale cutting processes
•cutting processes for difficult-to-cut metals, such as titanium alloy, and brittle materials, such as glass
•cutting controls in multi-axis machining or multi-tasking machining
•control, simulation, and monitoring of cutting processes
•material-related research, such as studies on built-up edges and microstructures in materials
•characterization and analysis of surface finishes

*Speedy Review (about 2months for the first review)
*IJAT is indexed in Scopus; Compendex (Ei-Index)
*日本語でも投稿できます（採録後、翻訳され英文で出版されます）

Environmental sustainability’s wide acceptance as vital to industry encourages theoretical and practical development in design and manufacturing.
In design, this includes ecodesign, life cycle design, scenario design, and design for X such as recycling, disassembly, maintenance, inspection, remanufacturing, and upgrading. In manufacturing, this includes sustainable manufacturing, energy and/or resource saving and sustainable value chain management.
The main aim of this special issue is to bring together the latest research results and practical case studies in design and manufacturing for environmental sustainability, especially touching upon a holistic view of technology, business, legislation, energy, resources, infrastructures, and customer behavior.
Papers ranging from theory to applications and case studies are welcomed.
Topics of interest in this special issue include but are not limited to
*design for sustainability including ecodesign, life cycle design, scenario design, and design for X
*manufacturing aspects for sustainability including sustainable manufacturing, energy and/or resource saving, and sustainable value chain management
*business and social aspects of sustainability, including SDGs, ecobusiness planning, sustainable consumption and production, and environmental legislation
*planning and design of sustainable infrastructure systems including “smart” cities, green buildings, green ICT, energy saving data centers, smart grids, and sensor-networks for environmental monitoring
*scenario planning and/or analysis for sustainability
*energy management and new energy technologies

[Special announcement for EcoDesign 2017 speakers]
We cannot accept the manuscripts that appear in the Springer E-book as it is, but we can accept the manuscripts that appear only in the proceedings of EcoDesign 2017.

[in Japanese]
Journal of Robotics and Mechatronicsでは、大学の研究者による研究論文だけではなく、企業の技術者や大学・高専の学生による開発報告も募集しています。ロボティクス・メカトロニクスのシステム・技術を開発してみたが学術研究としてはまとめづらい場合であっても、自分たちの開発成果を読者に紹介したいという場合には、開発報告を書いてください。掲載されるとオンラインで無料公開され、世界中の読者に対して自分たちの成果を発信できます。英文誌ですが、英語で書くのが苦手な方でも、日本語で書いて出版社で翻訳することも可能です。開発現場での製品開発やロボット競技会での活動を通して達成した成果を、ぜひとも開発報告として投稿してください。

[in English]
The Journal of Robotics and Mechatronics (JRM) is calling for not only research papers from university researchers but also development reports from corporate engineers and university or college students. If you would like to present to our readers a system or technology you have developed in the field of robotics and mechatronics, you are encouraged to write a development report, even if you find difficulty in writing a research paper. Once published, your report will appear online free of charge and be shared with readers all over the world. JRM is an English journal, but if you are not confident in your English skills, you can write your report in Japanese and we will translate it for you. We are looking forward to receiving your development reports on, such as, product development in your company or an achievement in a robotics competition.
<PDF>: https://www.fujipress.jp/main/wp-content/uploads/JRM_CFP_Development.pdf

The need for difficult-to-machine materials is increasing for opt-electric devices, semiconductors, automobiles, aircraft, and medical devices. Optical glass lenses have been molded with hard molds made of ceramics, such as tungsten carbide (WC) and silicon carbide (SiC), and it is most important to reduce form deviation and surface roughness in these molds. Single crystalline SiC is expected to be applied to semiconductors for the power module devices of automobiles, trains, and electrical devices. Nickel-based super alloys, Ti alloys, CFRP, hardened steels, and other materials are widely used in the aerospace, automobile, and chemical industries because of their superior properties, such as their high operating temperatures or superior specific strengths. Ti alloys are used in medical applications involving bones, dental implants, etc. In order to increase the performance and reduce the cost of these applications, the development of high-precision and high-performance abrasive technologies is very important. This special issue of the IJAT invites papers in the following areas:
• Grinding, finishing, deburring, lapping, polishing, honing, abrasive jet machining, etc.
• Grinding machines/systems and abrasive machines
• Abrasives and tools, tribology between tool and workpiece
• Truing, dressing, ELID (Electrolytic In-Process Dressing) for grinding
• Silicon wafers and hard/brittle materials processing
• Loose/suspended abrasive particle machining/polishing
• Hybrid super-finishing processes
• Precision/ultra-precision, micro-machining, nano-machining, super finishing/nano-surfacing
• Surface characterization/evaluation of surfaces processed with abrasives
• Metrology for precision/ultra-precision machining and in-process measurement/monitoring
• Environmentally friendly coolants/cooling
• Teaching and learning innovations

[in Japanese]
近年、3Dプリンタが急速に注目を集めています。高性能化と低価格化を背景に、一般家庭でも3Dプリンタを所有できる時代になり、個人でも容易にデジタルデータからオリジナルの立体造形物を作り出すことが可能になりました。ものづくり革命の到来とも言われています。JRMでは、3Dプリンタによるものづくりの革新を特集するため、革新的な造形技術やモデリング技術、理工系教育への応用、などロボット・メカトロニクス分野への応用が期待される3Dプリンタの技術の報告を募集します。投稿者と読者の間でモデリングデータやノウハウを共有し、創造的アイデアのネットワークを形成していくことも狙いの１つです。大学や研究機関からはもちろん、企業からも、皆様の投稿をお待ちしております。

[in English]
The high performance and low price of 3D printers have made them available to ordinary homes and individuals. Nowadays original 3D objects can be easily produced by individuals using 3D printers. To focus on the innovation of manufacturing using 3D printers, we are calling for technical reports introducing 3D printer technologies applied to robotics and mechatronics fields. Examples include innovative shaping and modeling technology, scientific and technological education, and so on. One of our aims is to form a creative network among authors and readers through the sharing of modeling data and technical knowledge. Submissions are welcome from both academic institutions such as universities and laboratories and from commercial and other enterprises.
Details are given in the following PDF.
https://www.fujipress.jp/main/wp-content/uploads/JRM_3DPrinter_CFP_En.pdf

Regular paper submission is always welcome.

Regular paper submissions are always welcome!

Regular paper submissions are always welcome!