Intelligent Robots and Mechatronics

Mechatronics is an engineering multidisciplinary approach aimed at intelligent integrated systems that are conceived as a combination of elements having different natures.

The main characteristics of mechatronics systems are the integration and complementarities of the several aspects from many disciplines, including, but not limited to, mechanics, electronics, electric engineering, control, measurement, and computer science.

Similarly, the same multidisciplinary approach that has been already experienced in mechatronics is being increasingly used in robotics.

Other aspects and disciplines are being integrated into and complementing robotics to widen its applications, increase its performance, improve its user-friendliness, and increase the demand for shared human–robot environments and interactions.

Accordingly, this section will address common aspects of intelligent robots and mechatronic solutions with a specific focus on key multidisciplinary aspects, as well as key enabling know-how and technologies to support and solve the new challenges of the modern human life and society.

There will be a specific focus on a broad range of different emerging fields and new challenges where multi-disciplinarity plays a key role. One can refer and take inspiration from the ongoing trending topics of assistive devices for elderly and handicapped persons to cooperative devices for workers in factories and automation in unstructured environments, such as construction fields and farms, just to cite few examples.

Given the very broad coverage of this section, authors are encouraged to consider innovative aspects while also considering well-established knowledge, subject areas, applications, which may be addressed from a different, modern, and innovative perspective. 

Topics addressed in this section include, but are not limited to the following:

• Modeling and design strategies
• Design solutions and developments
• Mechatronic devices and applications
• Innovative service tasks
• Industrial applications
• Sensor integration and experimental testing strategies
• Intelligent control and operation strategies
• Modular, scalable, wearable robots or devices. 

Contributors with multidisciplinary backgrounds, approaches, perspectives are all very welcome.