Positioning systems play an important role in industrial and scientific applications. Therefore, their performance improvements and functional expansions are crucial. Positioning systems generally consist of mechanisms, actuators, controllers, and sensors, and the performance and functions of the system depend on their integration. Therefore, positioning technologies encompass these elements and their integration. Furthermore, technologies such as AI and IoT are being incorporated to improve the performance and functionalities, and expand the applications. This special issue aims to provide researchers with access to the latest research and practical case studies on elemental technologies for positioning, and industrial and peripheral technology applications. The topics of interest in this special issue include but are not limited to the following:

– Elemental technologies: Design and Characteristics of Mechanisms and Actuators, Control technology, Sensors, Measurement technology, System design, Simulations, Materials

– Industrial applications: Machine tools, Semiconductor manufacturing equipment, Measuring instruments, Robots, Scanning probe microscope

– Applications of peripheral technologies: AI, IoT, Signal processing, Image processing, DX, Green Technology.

The demand for sensing in robotics and automation is increasing with a decrease in labor force. Backed with recent developments in computational performance, image processing technology is widely used for various applications. This special issue aims to provide researchers the opportunity to access the latest research and practical case studies on advanced image processing, computer vision, and sensing techniques for robotics and automation. Topics of interest in this special issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

– Theory and algorithms: Image Processing, Computer Vision, Pattern Recognition, Object Detection, Image Understanding, Media Understanding, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, 3D Measurement, Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM), Multispectral Image Processing, Visualization, VR/AR/MR, Datasets for Image Processing

– Industrial applications: Factory Automation, Machine Vision, Visual Inspection, Monitoring, Surveying, Logistics

– Sensing techniques for robotics and automation: Robot Vision, Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS), Autonomous Driving, Robotic Picking, Assembly, and Palletizing

– Image processing hardware and software: Image Acquisition Devices, Image Sensors, Image Processing Systems, Sensor Information Processing

– Man machine interface: Visualization, Human Interface Devices

The development of machining and measurement systems is strongly driven by the demands of digital transformation (DX) and green transformation (GX). Specifically, it is necessary to solve critical challenges in various fields, such as design, manufacturing, inspection, maintenance, and recycling, in response to the requirements of labor reduction, skill-free operation, and efficiency improvement throughout the entire production process. Furthermore, it is necessary to maintain social prosperity while controlling resource consumption by connecting these challenges. Therefore, tools that have supported production, such as machine tools, assembly machines, industrial robots, and measuring instruments, need to improve their conventional basic performance. It is also vital to circulate design, evaluation, and operational information in the value cycle.

The papers in this special issue discuss the concept of design, manufacturing, and evaluation technologies of production machines, methods of circulating information for individual tools, and evaluation methods from the perspective of GX.

•Optimal design of production machines and measurement systems
•Digital twin of production machines and machine elements
•New evaluation methods for production machine and machine elements
•On-machine process evaluation
•Design and evaluation of sensor fused intelligent systems

Recent technological developments have expanded the range of applications and possibilities for industrial robots. This special issue calls for a wide range of papers from reports of successful practical applications to ambitious proposals that may significantly impact the field in the future, concerning the automation of manual work such as material handling in factories, logistics, commercial facilities, and public facilities, as well as elemental technologies and system integration for new work methods such as collaboration and remote operation. We expect not only papers on elemental technologies including traditional technologies such as computer vision, grasping, manipulation, mechatronics, control methods, robot hands, mechanisms, and actuators, but also proposals for the future with challenging technologies such as human–machine interactions, foundation models, generative AI, and soft robotics. In systems integration, we welcome articles on robot programming, mobile manipulators, and new automation system applications. Through this special issue, we hope to share with you the future of this historic industrial field.

This special issue aims to bring together the latest research and practical case studies on design and manufacturing for environmental sustainability, especially those that deal with a holistic view of technology, business, legislation, energy, resources, infrastructures, and customer behavior. Papers ranging from theory to application and case studies are welcome. Topics of interest in this special issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

* Design for sustainability and circularity: ecodesign, life cycle design, scenario design, product service system design, and design for XaaS, design for circularity, and design for X.
* Manufacturing aspects of sustainability: sustainable manufacturing, carbon neutralization in manufacturing, reduced energy and/or resource consumption, digital transformation in manufacturing, and sustainable value chain management
* Business and social aspects of sustainability: SDGs, circular economy, ecobusiness planning, product service system business, sharing business, and environmental legislation
* Planning and design of sustainable infrastructure systems: “smart” cities, zero energy buildings, circular economy platforms, and designing circular economy ecosystems
* Scenario planning and/or analysis for sustainability
* Energy management and new energy technologies

Special announcement for EcoDesign 2023 speakers: We cannot accept manuscripts that have been published in the Springer E-book unless they have been significantly altered. However, we can accept manuscripts that appear only in the Proceedings of EcoDesign 2023, after passing through the special issue’s review process.

Research has been ongoing on various types of soft robots in recent years. Soft robots with flexible mechanisms are expected to contribute greatly to the development of robotics, not only in industrial applications but also in various other applications, such as tasks involving robot-human interactions. Flexible mechanisms are not necessarily realized with flexible materials alone; they can also be realized by taking new approaches to conventional mechanisms. It is also desirable for sensors and various other components to be flexible so that they do not reduce the flexibility of a mechanism. The development of these mechanisms and elemental technologies will lead to the further development of soft robots. This special issue will feature papers on the structures and applications of soft mechanisms and soft elements, as well as on design and analysis methods and control techniques. We welcome many submissions so that we may contribute to the further development of soft robots.

Snake-like robots are robots that have elongated, snake-like bodies. Because of their long, thin shapes, snakelike robots are expected to play different roles from those of other types of robots. For example, they may be used to inspect pipes or search for victims at disaster sites. Many studies that focus on biomimetics, mechanisms, modeling, analyzing, control, navigation, sensing, and localization have been conducted on snakelike robots, and there have been many efforts aimed at their industrialization.
This special issue calls for a wide range of research and development results from the field of robotics and mechatronics for snake-like robots and similar elongated, hyper-redundant robots, such as earthworm robots, caterpillar robots, or other articulated mobile robots.

Aerial robot technology, including drones and unmanned aerial vehicles, is rapidly advancing in various domains. These robots now possess enhanced autonomous flying abilities, utilizing sensor technology, GPS, LiDAR, and cameras for avoiding obstacles, landing automatically, and tracking flights. Evolving technologies in airspace management and route optimization ensure efficient and secure flights. Aerial robots find applications in diverse fields, such as agriculture, disaster response, and environmental monitoring. Equipped with high-resolution cameras and sensors, they excel in precise data collection. Swarm robotics, enabling collaborative efforts among multiple aerial robots, is also progressing. This aids in the quick coverage of large areas, benefiting disaster relief and land management. The evolution of aerial robots has led to their efficient use across fields, with new applications on the horizon. This special issue aims to facilitate the sharing of insights and interdisciplinary knowledge in aerial robotics, encompassing design, control, autonomous flight, applications, and sensing technologies. Contributions discussing the social implementation of these systems are also encouraged.

In the fields of design, manufacturing, social infrastructure, and medicine, it has become possible in recent years to create large-scale 3D digital data that represent the geometry of various types of objects. These data are obtained from high-performance 3D measurement systems, such as laser measurement and CT. However, to effectively deploy such digital data for design, manufacturing, maintenance, simulation, diagnosis, inspection, or other applications, it is essential to have geometric processing technologies that appropriately and efficiently convert and process, according to the application, the volume, resolution, representation format, semantic attributes, etc. of the 3D digital data. This special issue solicits papers on the fundamentals and applied research of such advanced digital geometric processing techniques. Papers are welcome on the following or other related topics:

3D measurement (CT, laser scanning, photogrammetry, etc.), point cloud processing, volume data processing, meshes, finite element analysis and discretization issues, virtual and augmented reality, reverse engineering, digital/virtual prototyping, digital style/industrial design, advanced algorithms for CAD/CAM, digital geometry processing for additive manufacturing and 3D printing, solid and heterogeneous modeling, hardware acceleration, 3D object recognition/archival/retrieval, CAD in the arts and creative media, Internet-based/Web-enabled design and engineering, machine/deep learning techniques related to these topics, other traditional and emerging topics of three-dimensional digital geometry processing, standardization, and educational applications.

Robotics, mechatronics, and digital technologies are actively being used in sports, health care, and exercise. Additionally, advancements in AI and robotics are expected to lead to even more innovative applications. Robotics technology plays a significant role in sports and exercise training. There is a growing interest in technology that enables training robots to monitor individual movement and form, providing feedback to the user and facilitating effective training. The combination of biosensor technology and digital technology is enhancing performance and health monitoring. Real-time data collection using wearable devices and smart sensors allows for measuring exercise performance and analyzing biometric data. Systems are also being developed that utilize AI and machine learning to analyze individual data and provide information to enhance performance and prevent injuries. VR and AR are offering groundbreaking experiences in the field of sports and exercise, with various applications in development, including training simulations, realistic recreations of competitive events, visual performance analysis, and virtual coaches for training instructions. In this special issue, we invite papers on the research and development of robotics, mechatronics, and digital technologies and systems in sports, health care, and exercise. We also welcome papers discussing the social implementation of these systems.

Regular paper submission is always welcome. Submitted paper is reviewed at all times, and when it is accepted for publication, it will appear in the near issue.
一般投稿論文は常に受け付けております。随時査読を行い、採録になり次第出版日の近い号に掲載されます。

[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>

Always welcome

[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>

[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 PDF.

Regular paper submissions are always welcome!

Regular paper submissions are always welcome!