As we become a super-aging society, it is essential to maintain and improve the quality of life among the elderly and to counter the young labor force shortage. Such problems are becoming evident in several areas, including not just the manufacturing sector but also the fields of transport/mobility and healthcare/welfare, wherein such situations abound that cannot be solved simply by replacing human workers with robots. In the manufacturing sector, for instance, the transmission of skills and knowledge is threatened as the members of the baby boomer generation who possess the knowledge and experience have reached the age of retirement, even as the younger population is declining. Another example is the provision of care with human warmth at sites of nursing. As we evolve toward Society 5.0, which is represented by a digital transformation and encompasses elements such as digital twins, it will be critical to pioneer a robotic technology that allows robots to work with humans to achieve a prosperous coexistence and create an affluent society. For this special issue, featuring humancentric robotic systems coexisting and working together with humans, we invite researchers to submit papers covering a wide range of topics, including element technologies and operating and evaluation methods.

Autonomous mobility, as exemplified by self-driving cars, autonomous mobile robots, drones, etc., is essential to the acceleration and practical application of transportation services and the automation of delivery, guidance, security, and inspection. Therefore, in recent years, expectations have been building for autonomous mobility to grow as a technology that not only improves the convenience and comfort of transportation and the efficiency of logistics but also leads to solutions to various social problems. Various technological elements are required to ensure the safety and quality of autonomous mobility for safe use. For example, technology is needed to create environmental maps and automatically determine obstacles, based on data acquired by cameras and sensors such as LiDAR. Technologies for planning appropriate routes and controlling robots safely and comfortably are also essential. In this special issue, we call for research papers on the “recognition,” “decision and planning,” and “control” of autonomous mobility in use. We welcome papers on, but not limited to, the following topics: mobile robots, self-driving cars, drones, personal mobility, SLAM, odometry, state estimation, path tracking control, obstacle avoidance, active cruise control, assist control, and attitude control.

The World Robot Challenge (WRC), was a competition in which teams from all over the world competed with their robots in one of the 4 categories: Industrial Robotics, Service Robotics, Disaster Robotics, and Junior. From this competition several research outcomes, practical implementations and new knowledge were created. This special issue of JRM aims at offering an opportunity for participants of the WRC to present their work, and their robots that competed in the WRC, and the learnings from this competition and the outcome for future developments in robotics. Scientific contributions in any of the four categories of the WRC are welcome.

As the calculation speed of computers has increased, input and output devices such as cameras and displays have become faster, and the delays (latency) inherent in conventional systems have been approaching elimination. As a result, general-purpose system design principles based on high-speed image processing technology, including high-speed robotics, visual feedback, high-speed tracking, markerless tracking, dynamic projection mapping (DPM), low-latency video processing technologies, and others, have been created. These have enabled us to achieve not only high-speed (1,000 fps), but also sophisticated algorithms for handling rich information contents, and these algorithms have contributed to a more comfortable information environment. In particular, it is expected that a new dimension of information environment systems with millisecond-order motion characteristics in crosscutting fields such as multimedia, robotics, human-robot interaction, sports science, and others, will be realized. In this special issue, we focus on high-speed vision and its applications for next-generation information environment systems. We welcome papers pertaining to, but not limited to, the following topics:
 • High-speed vision
 • High-speed image processing algorithms
 • High-speed tracking
 • High-speed adaptive optics
 • High-speed robotics
 • Hardware for high-speed robotics
 • Sensor fusion
 • Dynamic manipulation
 • Human-machine cooperation
 • Visual feedback
 • Micro-visual feedback
 • Intelligent systems
 • Sensor networks
 • Active vision
 • 3D shape recognition
 • Gesture recognition
 • High-speed projectors
 • Realistic displays
 • Dynamic projection mapping
 • Dynamic interaction
 • Factory automation and inspection
 • Security
 • Bio-medical applications
 • Multi-media applications
 • Sports science
 • Human interface

In recent years, the field of robots for medical applications has expanded rapidly. These robots effectively augment their operators’ skills, enabling them to be highly accurate and precise in performing complex procedures. As the use of robots improves both the patients’ quality of life and the quality of medical research, the research and development of robots for medical applications will become more active in aging societies. For safer and more intelligent robot operation, it is important to improve their usability, improve their functionality, and integrate them with technologies such as augmented reality.
This special issue focuses on robot design and control as well as on integrated technologies for robots for medical applications, such as navigation, simulator, image guidance, training, and robot validation.

“Hyper-adaptability” is the capability of the brain and nervous system to manage the impairment of sensory, motor, and cognitive functions by reactivating and recruiting pre-existing networks that are latent but available. To learn about hyper-adaptability, interdisciplinary research integrating mathematical modeling and robotic technologies with neuroscience findings will be important. This special issue focuses on systems science/engineering research to clarify the mechanisms of hyperadaptability, and it widely welcomes papers related to the adaptation mechanisms of humans, animals, and robots, including, but not limited to, the following topics:
– Mathematical modeling of brain functions
– Computational principle of hyper-adaptability
– Modeling of the neuro-musculoskeletal system
– Robotic intervention for neuro-rehabilitation
– Analysis of brain dynamics in adaptation

[in Japanese]
本特集号では，福島第一原子力発電所廃炉に関する人材育成のために，全国の高専生を対象として開催されている「廃炉創造ロボコン」の成果を世界に発信することを目的としています．「廃炉創造ロボコン」は福島第一原子力発電所廃炉に関する課題をテーマとして2016年から，福島県楢葉町の日本原子力研究開発機構楢葉遠隔技術開発センターを会場として開催しています．従来のロボコンとは異なり，夏休み中に福島第一原子力発電所や福島の現状を正しく理解するためのサマースクールに参加し，そこで得られた知識をロボット開発に活かします．高専生の柔軟な発想と高い技術力が廃炉の現場に役立つと期待しています．2018年の第3回廃炉創造ロボコンからMalaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology（マレーシア）の学生も参加しています．これまでの5回の大会で各高専が開発したロボットの機構や制御手法，アイデアや知見を共有し，廃炉の現場に役立て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．

[in English]
This special issue aims to make available to a global audience the outcomes of the “Creative Robot Contest for Decommissioning.” These contests have been held for students of national technical colleges with the aim of developing human resources capable of engaging in the decommissioning of the nuclear reactors of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The contests, held at the Japan Atomic Energy Agency’s Naraha Center for Remote Control Technology Development in Narahamachi, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan since 2016, adopt as themes the various issues involved in decommissioning the nuclear reactors of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. Unlike in the case of conventional robot contests, the student contestants attend a special summer school to accurately comprehend the status quo of both the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station and Fukushima Prefecture as a whole so that they may utilize the knowledge they acquire to develop their own robots for the decommissioning work. We hope that the students’ flexible thinking and high technological strengths prove to be very useful on the sites of the decommissioning work. Students of the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (in Malaysia) have also been participating since the third contest 2018. We would like to share, on a global basis, the mechanisms, control methods, innovations, and knowledge of the robots that individual technical college teams have developed in the past five “Creative Robot Contest for Decommissioning” in the service of the sites of nuclear reactor decommissioning work.
It is in this context that we cordially invite contributions of articles to this special issue.
https://www.fujipress.jp/main/wp-content/uploads/JRMCFP_34-3E.pdf

[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

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.

[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.