Advanced digital geometry processing is required to develop, maintain, and renovate plants, factories, tunnels, bridges, forests, buildings and urban environments, as well as to conduct simulations and several automations therein. The importance of the rapid evolution of reliable and efficient 3D acquisition, processing, recognition, and modeling technologies, and their application to digital geometry data from large-scale structures and environments, is increasing.
Much research effort is being devoted to digital geometry processing and its applications. The main objective of this special issue is to provide the results of the latest research on and useful applications of digital geometry processing for large-scale structures and environments.
Related topics include but are not limited to the following:
* 3D geometry data acquisition of large-scale structures and environments.
* Point cloud and mesh data processing of large-scale structures and environments.
* Recognition and modeling of large-scale structures and environments.
* Applications of digital geometry data of large-scale structures and environments.
The papers in this special issue present the latest advances in large-scale geometry processing. Learning about these advances will help readers explore them while sharing their knowledge and experience with related technologies and developments.

[in Japanese]
局地的な大雨の増加や計画規模を上回る豪雨の多発により、内水氾濫の被害が増大している。令和元年台風第 19 号においては、河川の氾濫等による被災とともに、全国 15 都県140 市区町村において内水氾濫による浸水被害が発生したが、下水道施設の被災による市民生活への影響や、下水道を介した河川からの浸水が社会に与えたインパクトは大きく、都市浸水に対する社会的関心が高まっている。
気候変動に伴い降雨量の増加が懸念される中、内水氾濫による被害も増大していく可能性があり、これまでの都市浸水対策をあらためて見直す必要がある。浸水多発時代の到来に備え、モニタリングの新技術、数値モデルによる都市氾濫解析、温暖化実験による将来予測データ、リスク情報の活用策、地方自治体における雨水対策事例等、産学官の有する知見を広く共有していくことは非常に重要である。
この背景において、本特集ではこれからの都市浸水対策の推進に資する科学的な知見をまとめることを目的とし、都市浸水リスク研究に関する下記の3テーマに焦点を当てて編集する。

なお、原稿の種類はresearch papers, reviews, reports及びnotesに関するものとし、英語論文での投稿のみを受付する予定である。

[in English]
With the increase of heavy rainfall that exceeds the designed level, damages associated with pluvial flooding is increasing. Typhoon Hagibis in 2019 devastated 140 municipalities in 15 prefectures, and damages in sewerage system affected civic life and urban inundation by fluvial flooding through sewer networks impacted society, raising high social interests in urban flood risk management. On the course of increase in rainfall under the global climate change, damages associated with pluvial flooding is anticipated to increase and thereby raising necessity to review current urban flood risk management. To prepare for the era of frequent urban flooding, it is highly important to share knowledge among academia, administrative, and private sectors regarding, new technologies in monitoring, numerical models for urban flood analysis, application of projected future climatic data under the global warming, application of risk information, and storm-water management practice in municipalities. Under such circumstances, we call for papers in the following three themes to support and expel storm water management based on scientific findings.

We accept research papers, reviews, reports, and notes, which are written in English.

In the last two years, the use of drones has advanced rapidly. Drones are becoming an indispensable tool in various industrial fields, such as surveying, inspection, and agriculture. At the same time, autonomous drone technology has also made rapid progress, with the unprecedented appearance of intelligent drones that combine image processing technology with AI technology. In this special issue, we are calling for papers on the latest autonomous drone technologies, especially intelligent drones.

Owing to changes in global industrial structure, the number of employees in manufacturing industry has been decreasing in developed countries. One of solutions offered in Industry 4.0 is “utilization of ROBOT and AI as alternatives to skilled workers.” The solutions have been applied to various operations conventionally performed by skilled workers and have given consistent results. A skilled worker has two features: “skill for physical operation” and “skill for decision making,” which correspond to utilization of ROBOT and AI, respectively.
Topics of interest in this special issue include but are not limited to the following:
*Application of ROBOT for various operations.
*Application of AI for various operations.
*Automation of operation that requires skill.
In addition to academic theory or analysis, technical reports, including practical cases, are welcome.

本特集号では，公道における実験を通して積み重ねられた，確実に動くシステム構築とその制御手法を世界に発信することを目的としています．実世界における自律移動ロボットの公開実験「つくばチャレンジ」は，2018 年から第三ステージとなり，開催場所はつくば市役所をスタート地点とするコースへと変更されました．また，新たなる試みとして，前日に通知されるチェックポイントの通過や，２台同時スタート，コース中の一時停止線の厳守など，現実世界の自律走行に期待される機能を要求する課題が加わりました．一方，つくばチャレンジの精神を受け継いだ新たなる試みとして，大阪市内での公開実証実験事業「中之島チャレンジ」が2018 年より開催されています．大阪の市街地を自律移動ロボットが走行する唯一の大会として，市街地ならではの実環境走行に求められる課題が新たに発見され，それらを解決してくれるものと期待しています．それぞれのチャレンジで，大会から提供された課題を達成したチームはシステム構成と制御手法を，惜しくも課題達成ができなかったチームは，各々のチームが設定した課題とシステムの検証を是非とも行っていただき，得られた知見を共有して頂きたいと考えております．本特集号へのご投稿をお待ちしています．

Abrasive technologies are currently indispensable for production processes in various industries, such as the automotive, aerospace, optics, telecommunications, and healthcare industries. In
production in these industries, even though it may be difficult to obtain the required accuracy and quality through other machining methods, abrasive technologies overcome the problems, yielding high surface quality with high dimensional and shape accuracy as a result. On the other hand, high-hardness materials, such as hardening die steels, cemented carbides, ceramics, and semiconductor materials, as well as heat-resistant materials, such as titanium alloys and nickel-based alloys, have become more difficult to machine as they have been developed. The accuracy and efficiency required of them have also increased. In order to realize these required types of processing, it is necessary to further advance the research and development of abrasive technologies, such as grinding and polishing. To these ends, it is important to elucidate the mechanisms of grinding and polishing and to develop processing techniques based on them. In addition, it is important to develop abrasive tools, including the abrasives they use, and to develop technologies peripheral to abrasive processing, such as tool conditioning techniques, coolant supply systems, and the coolants themselves.
This special issue covers the high-precision abrasive technologies of grinding, lapping, polishing, and jet machining, as well as magnetic machining technologies, vibration-assisted abrasive
technologies, and energy-assisted abrasive technologies.

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 “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.

Recent trends such as circular economy and responsible consumption and production have shown that it is increasingly crucial to include environmental sustainability in design and manufacturing.
In design, this includes ecodesign, life cycle design, scenario design, and design for X such as RRRDR (Remanufacturing, Refurbish, Repair, and Direct Reuse), maintenance, upgrading, recycling,
disassembly, and inspection. In manufacturing, this includes sustainable manufacturing, reducing energy and/or resource consumption, and sustainable value chain management.
The aim of this special issue is 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 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, product service system design, and design for X
*manufacturing aspects of sustainability including sustainable manufacturing, reducing energy and/or resource consumption, digital transformation in manufacturing, and sustainable value chain management
*business and social aspects of sustainability, including SDGs, circular economy, CE business, ecobusiness planning, product service system business, sharing business, sustainable consumption and production, and environmental legislation
*planning and design of sustainable infrastructure systems including “smart” cities, green buildings, green ICT, 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 2019 speakers]
We cannot accept manuscripts that appear in the Springer E-book as is. However, we can accept manuscripts that appear only in the Proceedings of EcoDesign 2019.

It is well known that fluid-powered systems are used practically in almost all industrial fields, including construction, manufacturing, transportation, and others. Nowadays, the rapid growth in the development of mechanical elements in fluid power systems, such as control valves, actuators, and sensors, as well as control strategies has given rise to pioneering in some novel application fields, in ways that were thought to be impossible a decade ago. High-precision positioning control using the compressible fluid of pneumatic driving systems and multi-legged robots equipped with standalone hydraulic components are simple examples. Moreover, soft robotics based on fluid-powered technologies have attracted attention not only in academia but also in human support fields that will become more important as Japan’s society ages. This special issue focuses on the state of the art in development of mechanical elements, total drive systems, motion control theory, as well as of concrete applications that use fluid-powered systems.

Recently, with the development of new technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT), Industry 4.0, and Cyber Physical Systems based on ICT or AI, the role of production is also changing. It is obvious that the traditional business model based on process chains for production functionality has limitations for further growth. In production, it is necessary to consider a value chain with service factors for adding innovative value to the products. “Value creation” is an important concept to realize a sustainable ecosystem in production.
This special issue focuses on “value creation” or “value in use” in production. Accordingly, comprehensive topics related to value creation in production are invited, including but not limited to:
– Smart factory, logistics, distribution with value chain
– Servitization in production industry
– Product service systems
– Sustainable ecosystem with value in production / service industry
– Sharing economy in production / service systems
– Application of digital transformation in production / service systems

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 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

[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

[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!