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.

Robotics, mechatronics, and digital technologies are actively being used in sports, exercise, and health care. 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, exercise, and health care. We also welcome papers discussing the social implementation of these systems.

The “multi-agent system” (MAS) has been extensively researched, not only in the field of robotics but also in various other disciplines, such as economics, biology, and computer science. The distinctive feature of this system lies in the bottom-up achievement of the overall tasks of the system, wherein multiple agents with diverse characteristics engage in localized interactions. Moreover, there has been progress in designing and controlling system networks based on graph theory. In recent years, there has been a wide range of applications, including autonomous driving technologies, smart grids, and social systems. In this special issue, we aim to deepen the understanding of multi-agent systems, so we invite research papers that focus on their control and application. We welcome research papers from diverse fields related to multi-agent systems, such as swarm robotics, autonomous distributed systems, and machine learning. We eagerly await your enthusiastic submissions.

Various construction robot technologies have been developed for DX in the construction industry to increase productivity and safety. Even if they are technically superior, stand-alone technologies will not lead to practical applications, however. Currently, construction robots must work as part of a system integrated into construction and inspection procedures, or the entire site must function as a construction robot system. This special issue is to collect reviews, technical papers, and development reports related to robotic, mechatronic, and information systems to accelerate DX in the construction industry. We also welcome a wide range of topics related to construction robotics.

On March 11, 2011, an accident occurred at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS) of the Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO), and radiation levels in the reactor buildings have reached high levels due to the spread of radioactive contamination. Therefore, in order to reduce the risk of radiation exposure to workers during decommissioning work at FDNPS, it has become essential to utilize remote control system based on the technologies and knowledge in the field of robotics and mechatronics. The decommissioning of FDNPS is expected to take 30–40 years, and although 10 years have passed since the accident, there are still many unknowns at FDNPS. In addition, difficult tasks such as of fuel debris retrieval from the Primary Containment Vessel (PCV) await in the future, and the development of technologies to accomplish this is currently underway. Since the experience and knowledge of technological development gained through decommissioning task should be shared widely. This special issue is to collect review, technical papers related to robotic, mechatronic and information systems for decommissioning, and also development reports on remote control technologies used in decommissioning of FDNPS and also the technologies being developed for that. We also welcome a wide range of topics related to decommissioning technology.

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]
つくばチャレンジは2007年の開始以来，電子デバイスの高性能化によるLidarの三次元化とそれを利用する制御技術の進歩によって自律移動性能が向上し，課題を達成するロボットが増えてきました．さらなる人間との共存を進めるために探索や横断歩道の横断等が追加されましたが，季節の移り変わりや気象条件の変化があっても確実に動作することの難しさも見えてきました．障害物地図による自己位置推定による自律制御技術はほぼ確立されたものと言えますが，技術継承のための人材教育と研究の進展を両立することが求められています．中之島ロボットチャレンジでは，2025年の大阪万博に向けた自動ゴミ回収ロボットの実現を目指した研究開発が進行しています．本年の本走行が終了し，収集した実験データをまとめる時期となりました．本特集号では制御の成功例または失敗例の本質を分析して共有することで技術の向上を目指しています．チャレンジ参加者や自律移動ロボット研究者からの投稿をお待ちしています．

[in English]
The Tsukuba Challenge, launched in 2007, has seen an increasing number of robots accomplish their assigned tasks as the performance of their autonomous navigation systems has improved. This improved performance has mainly stemmed from 3D Lidar systems that have been realized using high-performance electronic devices, and advanced control technologies that take advantage of these systems. To further promote the coexistence of robots with human beings, additional tasks, such as searching, crossing a crosswalk, etc., have been assigned to robots over time, but it has been found that they still have some difficulty operating securely when the seasons or weather conditions change. While autonomous control technologies using self-localization by means of obstacle maps have become more or less established, what is now needed is the human resource training for technological succession to be made compatible with the research progress. Also, the Nakanoshima Robot Challenge has encouraged the research and development of autonomous trash collection robots that are intended for use at the Osaka-Kansai Japan Expo 2025. As both Challenges’ final runs were completed in 2022, it is now time to collate the data collected during these experiments.
This special issue on “Autonomous Robotics Challenge” aims to help improve autonomous robotics by analyzing and sharing the essence of successes and/or failures experienced in controlling autonomous mobile robots. In the above-mentioned context, you, whether a Challenge participant or an autonomous mobile robot researcher, are cordially invited to contribute your papers to this special issue. <PDF>

“Micro Electro-Mechanical System” (MEMS) is a mechatronics device based on semiconductor integrated circuit manufacturing technology. The development of MEMS devices has realized gyro/accelerometer sensors, pressure sensors, and flow sensors that are small enough to be installed in smartphones.
On the other hand, when we look at biological tissues, cells and intracellular microstructures, which are the basic constituent units, are microns or sub microns in size. Therefore MEMS technology is essentially a very powerful tool for researchers who want to manipulate and measure these minute biological components because it matches their scale.
MEMS technologies applied to medicine and life science are called Bio-MEMS, and in recent years, many Bio-MEMS devices and technologies including micro fluidic devices for cell culture, manipulation, and measurement, and lab-on-a-chip devices for chemical reactions and analysis on MEMS devices, have been developed and resulted in very impressive research results.
This Special Issue on “Bio-MEMS” cordially invites you to contribute your papers on a wide range of themes related to Bio-MEMS technology, from fundamental MEMS technology and device development to its applications to experiment and measurement using MEMS devices.

In biological and social systems, a “swarm” refers to a group of individual units that behave as a single intelligent entity. “Swarm behavior,” the collective result of the local interactions among the group members, exhibits what is called “swarm intelligence.” By identifying the design principles of such swarm intelligence, we may be able to create swarm robots that are highly adaptable, fault tolerant, and dimensionally flexible.
For this special issue, we invite papers on topics in which an interdisciplinary approach, including disciplines ranging from technology to biology to the mathematical sciences, for example, is used to elucidate the design principles of swarm intelligence. We believe that such knowledge will lead to transformations in the field of swarm robotics.

[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>

[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.