Special Issues

Actuators publishes Special Issues to create collections of papers on specific topics, with the aim of building a community of authors and readers to discuss the latest research and develop new ideas and research directions. Special Issues are led by Guest Editors, who are experts on the topic and all Special Issue submissions follow MDPI's standard editorial process. The journal’s Editor-in-Chief and/or designated Editorial Board Member will oversee Guest Editor appointments and Special Issue proposals, checking their content for relevance and ensuring the suitability of the material for the journal. The papers published in a Special Issue will be collected and displayed on a dedicated page of the journal’s website. Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies and Guest Editor responsibilities can be found here. For any inquiries related to a Special Issue, please contact the Editorial Office.

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Micro- and Nanorobotics for Biomedical Applications
edited by
submission deadline 15 Aug 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 2008
Keywords: micro/nano robotics; biomimetic robotics; soft robotics; wireless actuation; targeted delivery; biomedical applications
(This special issue belongs to the Section Actuators for Robotics)
Actuation and Sensing of Intelligent Soft Robots—2nd Edition
edited by
submission deadline 20 Aug 2026 | 6 articles | Viewed by 4484 | Submission Open
Keywords: intelligent soft robots; soft actuation mechanisms; flexible and embedded sensors; bio-inspired robotics; sensor fusion and data integration; soft robotic control and modeling; human–robot interaction (HRI); shape memory alloys and electroactive polymers; pneumatic and hydraulic actuators; wearable robotics and assistive devices
(This special issue belongs to the Section Actuators for Robotics)
Machine Learning for Actuation and Control in Robotic Joint Systems
edited by Gao Huang and Pan Yu
submission deadline 25 Aug 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1634 | Submission Open
Keywords: robotic joint control; robot joint design; machine learning; modeling, control, and optimization of electromechanical systems; adaptive control; neural networks; soft robot and actuation; humanoid robot; bio-inspired robot design; optimization of robot transmission; machine learning-based motion control
(This special issue belongs to the Section Actuators for Robotics)
Harnessing Morphological Computation for Intelligent Actuated Systems
edited by , , Perla Maiolino and
submission deadline 30 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 800 | Submission Open
Keywords: morphological computation; physical control; embodied intelligence; bioinspired simplification principles; control simplification; interaction-based intelligence; smart actuators; soft actuators; nonlinear systems; smart mechanisms
(This special issue belongs to the Section Actuators for Robotics)
Actuators in Fluid Power and Electro-Hydraulic Systems
edited by Roberto Strada and
submission deadline 30 Aug 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 687 | Submission Open
Keywords: modeling and simulation of electro-hydraulic systems and components; modeling and simulation of pneumatic systems and components; numerical methods for the simulation of pneumatic and hydraulic components; management and control strategies for optimal motion control; management and control strategies for energy saving optimization; energy consumption assessment; new design solutions for components and systems; soft robotic actuators; electro-hydrostatic actuators and their control techniques; hydrostatic transmissions and their control techniques
(This special issue belongs to the Section Control Systems)
Active Disturbance Rejection Control: Theory, Design, and Applications in Advanced Actuation Systems
edited by Yan Wu, and
submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 14 articles | Viewed by 9502 | Submission Open
Keywords: extended state observer; nonlinear control; bandwidth parametrization; error feedback control; dynamic compensation; robustness; model independence; decoupling; tracking differentiator
(This special issue belongs to the Section Control Systems)
Advanced Technologies on the Control Method of Electromagnetic Actuator—Second Edition
edited by , and Haitao Li
submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 8 articles | Viewed by 9409 | Submission Open
Keywords: magnetic bearing; electromagnetic actuator; electromagnetic analysis; electromagnetic compatibility; advanced control theory; signal processing
(This special issue belongs to the Section Control Systems)
Mechanical, Optical, and Acoustic Metamaterials and Anisotropic Design for Dynamic Control in Actuators and Sensors
edited by , Tomohisa Tanaka, and
submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 4923 | Submission Open
Keywords: mechanical metamaterials ; anisotropic design ; dynamic control ; actuators and actuators ; soft robotics ; functional materials
(This special issue belongs to the Section Actuators for Robotics)
Intelligent Actuation and Control Systems for Electrified Mobility and Robotics
edited by , , , and Kun A. Lee
submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1694 | Submission Open
Keywords: electric actuators; motor drive systems; electrified mobility; IPMSM/SynRM; magnetic levitation; wide-bandgap power converters; active gate driver; high-voltage and microwave systems; fault diagnosis and tolerance control; intelligent actuation
(This special issue belongs to the Section Actuators for Robotics)
Motion Planning, Trajectory Prediction, and Control for Robotics—2nd Edition
edited by Mingxing Yuan, and Yuling Li
submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 902 | Submission Open
Keywords: motion planning; motion/force control; human–robot interaction; trajectory prediction
(This special issue belongs to the Section Control Systems)
Smart Control for Electromagnetic (EM) Actuation
edited by Nafiseh Ebrahimi and
submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 455 | Submission Open
Keywords: electromagnetic actuation; smart control; adaptive control; AI-based control; soft robotics; distributed actuation networks; biomedical devices
(This special issue belongs to the Section Control Systems)
Soft, Hybrid, and Wearable Actuation Technologies for Rehabilitation Robotics submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 296 | Submission Open
Keywords: soft robotics; wearable actuators; rehabilitation robotics; human–robot interaction (HRI); neurorehabilitation; hybrid actuation systems; bio-inspired design; assistive technologies; biomechanical compatibility; patient-centered design
(This special issue belongs to the Section Actuators for Robotics)
Control System of Autonomous Surface Vehicles
edited by Jun Ning, Xin Hu, and Jian-Chuan Yin
submission deadline 15 Sep 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 10245 | Submission Open
Keywords: surface vehicle control; nonlinear control design; fuzzy logic control; observer design; automatic collision avoidance; sliding mode control systems; trajectory planning and optimization; autonomous surface vehicle control; networked control
(This special issue belongs to the Section Actuators for Surface Vehicles)
Cutting-Edge Advancements in Robotics and Control Systems
edited by and Babar Jamil
submission deadline 15 Sep 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 3138 | Submission Open
Keywords: actuators; soft and bio-inspired actuation; advanced motion control; robot control; human-robot interaction; autonomous robots
(This special issue belongs to the Section Actuators for Robotics)
Recent Advances in MEMS/NEMS Actuators and Sensors: From Theory to Application
edited by , Ryutaro Maeda and Chen Wu
submission deadline 15 Sep 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 2776 | Submission Open
Keywords: micro and nano sensors & actuators; micro and nano systems; micro and nano fabrication; micro and nano electronics
(This special issue belongs to the Section Miniaturized and Micro Actuators)
Piezoelectric Ultrasonic Actuators and Motors—2nd Edition
edited by and
submission deadline 15 Sep 2026 | Viewed by 650 | Submission Open
Keywords: high-frequency piezoelectric actuators; ultra-high-frequency driving technologies; piezoelectric–fluid coupling vibration control; microfluidic precision jetting; multi-DOF ultrasonic motors
Soft Robotics: Actuation, Control, and Application—2nd Edition
edited by
submission deadline 15 Sep 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 644 | Submission Open
Keywords: soft actuators; soft robots; flexible electronics; strain sensors; artificial muscle; electroactive polymers; compliant mechanism; tactile sensors
(This special issue belongs to the Section Actuators for Robotics)
Smart Responsive Materials for Sensors and Actuators
edited by Zhongqiang Yang, Ruimao Hua and Huan Liang
submission deadline 20 Sep 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 11126 | Submission Open
Keywords: smart responsive materials; additive manufacturing; sensors; actuators; environmental and healthcare monitoring; smart textiles; soft robots; human–computer interaction; artificial intelligence
(This special issue belongs to the Section Actuator Materials)
Wearable E-Textile Technologies: Sensors, Actuators, and Integrated Systems—2nd Edition
edited by , and
submission deadline 25 Sep 2026 | Viewed by 262 | Submission Open
Keywords: wearable sensors; wearable actuators; rehabilitation robot; exoskeleton; wearables; acoustics; haptics; signal control and feedback; integrated system
(This special issue belongs to the Section Actuators for Robotics)
Advanced Learning and Intelligent Control Algorithms for Robots
edited by , Lanlin Yu and
submission deadline 30 Sep 2026 | 7 articles | Viewed by 10197 | Submission Open
Keywords: robotics; advanced learning; intelligent control algorithms; multi-robot control; autonomous navigation control; decision-making; swarm robotics control
(This special issue belongs to the Section Control Systems)
Advanced Mechanism Design and Sensing for Soft Robotics
edited by Martina Maselli
submission deadline 30 Sep 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 9991 | Submission Open
Keywords: soft robotics technologies; advanced mechanism design; sensing technologies; deformable structures; real-time monitoring; control algorithms; autonomy and adaptability; soft robotic performance optimization
(This special issue belongs to the Section Control Systems)
Advanced Perception and Control of Intelligent Equipment
edited by , Zheming Wang, , and Wangzhuo Yang
submission deadline 30 Sep 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 4409 | Submission Open
Keywords: intelligent equipment; adaptive perception; robust control; fault diagnosis and isolation; distributed control
(This special issue belongs to the Section Control Systems)
Actuator-Based Control Strategies for Marine Vehicles
edited by and
submission deadline 30 Sep 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 3960 | Submission Open
Keywords: actuator-based control; motion control; marine vehicle; control allocation; optimization; navigation; unmanned vehicles
(This special issue belongs to the Section Control Systems)
Advanced Actuation and Control in Intelligent Robots and Autonomous Systems
edited by , Ahmed Mahmoud Onsy and Ali Ghanbari
submission deadline 30 Sep 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 3616 | Submission Open
Keywords: intelligent actuation; adaptive control systems; autonomous robotics; meta-heuristic optimization; path planning and trajectory control; embedded and real-time systems; artificial intelligence in control; fault-tolerant control; bio-inspired robotics; autonomous driving systems
(This special issue belongs to the Section Control Systems)
Fault Diagnosis and Prognosis in Actuators
edited by Chao Zhang, , Jie Chen and Qingbin Gao
submission deadline 30 Sep 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 3511 | Submission Open
Keywords: actuators; fault diagnosis; fault prognosis; fault detection; fault isolation; fault identification; signal processing; data-driven; machine learning; artificial intelligence; health management ; predictive maintenance
(This special issue belongs to the Section Control Systems)
Actuators for System Identification, Vibration Analysis, and Control—2nd Edition submission deadline 30 Sep 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 3103 | Submission Open
Keywords: vibration control; system identification; modal analysis; structural dynamics; finite element analysis; rotordynamics
(This special issue belongs to the Section Control Systems)
Intelligent and Advanced Control for Human-Centric Robotic Actuation and Interaction
edited by
submission deadline 30 Sep 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 3007 | Submission Open
Keywords: human–robot interaction (HRI); intelligent control; adaptive control; nonlinear control; impedance/admittance control; observer-based control
(This special issue belongs to the Section Actuators for Robotics)
Magnetic Bearings and Actuators: From Theory to Industrial Innovations submission deadline 30 Sep 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 2676 | Submission Open
Keywords: active magnetic bearings; passive magnetic bearings; electrodynamic bearings; superconducting magnetic bearings; bearingless motors (self-bearing motors); sensors, actuators, power electronics for magnetic bearings; self-sensing techniques; fault detection, diagnosis, and tolerance; backup/touchdown bearings; blood pumps and vacuum pumps
(This special issue belongs to the Section Control Systems)
Smart Materials, Intelligent Actuation, and AI Control in Magnetoactive Soft Robotics and Mechatronic Systems
edited by
submission deadline 30 Sep 2026 | Viewed by 349 | Submission Open
Keywords: magnetoactive soft robots; soft robotics; smart materials; intelligent actuation; mechatronic systems; robotic systems
(This special issue belongs to the Section Actuators for Robotics)
Recent Advances in Piezoelectric Actuators and Energy Harvesting Technologies
edited by , Simiao Yu, Xuhui Zhang and Jianan Pan
submission deadline 30 Sep 2026 | Viewed by 326 | Submission Open
Keywords: piezoelectric actuators; piezoelectric energy harvesting; smart materials; precision positioning; motion control; vibration energy harvesting; self-powered systems; robotics; biomedical devices; micro-electromechanical systems (MEMSs)
(This special issue belongs to the Section Actuator Materials)
Power Electronics and Actuators—Third Edition
edited by Dong Jiang, Sizhao Lu and Zewei Shen
submission deadline 30 Sep 2026 | Viewed by 228 | Submission Open
Keywords: power electronics; actuator; drive; dynamic; power density
(This special issue belongs to the Section High Torque/Power Density Actuators)
Innovations and Advanced Control in Fluid Power Actuation Systems
edited by and
submission deadline 1 Oct 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1035 | Submission Open
Keywords: hydraulic actuators; pneumatic actuators; hydrostatic pumps and motors; advanced control strategies; smart sensors and diagnostics; sustainable fluids and materials; Industry 4.0 integration; energy efficiency in fluid power; noise and vibration reduction; fluid power control valves
(This special issue belongs to the Section High Torque/Power Density Actuators)
Piezoelectric Actuators and Motors: State-of-the-Art and Perspectives for Actuators
edited by , and Zhi Xu
submission deadline 20 Oct 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 2522 | Submission Open
Keywords: advanced design of piezoelectric actuators; smart piezoelectric materials; theoretical analysis of piezoelectric actuators; precision control technology; self-sensing for piezoelectric actuators; assessment and precision measurement; advanced manufacturing of piezoelectric actuators; emerging applications of piezoelectric actuators
(This special issue belongs to the Section Actuator Materials)
Magnetic Materials for Novel Actuators
edited by
submission deadline 20 Oct 2026 | Viewed by 283 | Submission Open
Keywords: magnetic shape-memory alloys; magnetostrictive and magnetorheological materials; soft magnetic composites; magneto-active polymers; emerging actuation technologies; magnetically driven actuators; intelligent actuation systems; adaptive actuation systems
(This special issue belongs to the Section Actuator Materials)
Intelligent and Precision Control for Mechatronic/Electro-Hydraulic Systems—Second Edition
edited by and
submission deadline 30 Oct 2026 | 7 articles | Viewed by 6614 | Submission Open
Keywords: control; mechatronics; electro-hydraulic systems; intelligent control; machine learning; motion control; non-linear control
(This special issue belongs to the Section Control Systems)
Bioinspired Intelligence for Soft Actuators: Learning, Control, and Embodied Design
edited by , and Yi Li
submission deadline 30 Oct 2026 | 8 articles | Viewed by 6368 | Submission Open
Keywords: bioinspired robotics; soft robotic actuators; biomimetic design principles; smart materials; artificial muscles; autonomous sensor integration; medical, wearable, and rehabilitation robotics; robotics in harsh environments; autonomous decision making; integrated sensors
(This special issue belongs to the Section Actuators for Robotics)
From Lab to Clinic: The Expanding Role of Robots and Actuators in Biomedicine
edited by Zhixing Ge and
submission deadline 30 Oct 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1899 | Submission Open
Keywords: micro- and nanorobots; soft robotics; intelligent control systems; minimally invasive therapy; biomedical robotics; clinical translation
Intelligent Safety Control and Actuation Technologies for Aerospace Systems
edited by
submission deadline 30 Oct 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1615 | Submission Open
Keywords: aerospace vehicle control; control systems design; safety control; intelligent control; model predictive control; adaptive control; human–machine shared control; trustworthy control design and decision-making; machine learning; command allocation; actuator modeling, simulation, and validation
(This special issue belongs to the Section Aerospace Actuators)
Recent Advances in the Design and Applications for Pneumatic Actuators
edited by , Robert Kristof and
submission deadline 30 Oct 2026 | Viewed by 299 | Submission Open
Keywords: smart pneumatics; pneumatic actuators; pneumatic valves; soft robotics; bio-inspired pneumatics; pneumatic simulations; pneumatic optimizations; pneumatics applications
(This special issue belongs to the Section Actuators for Robotics)
Soft Actuators and Robotics—2nd Edition submission deadline 31 Oct 2026 | 6 articles | Viewed by 16309 | Submission Open
Keywords: soft robotics; soft actuators; manufacturing methods in soft robotics; topology optimization in soft robotics; modeling and control of soft robotics; AI in soft robotics; soft grippers
(This special issue belongs to the Section Actuators for Robotics)
Neural Networks-Based Modeling and Control for Uncertain Dynamical Systems
edited by Guanyu Lai, Fang Wang, and Hanzhen Xiao
submission deadline 31 Oct 2026 | 6 articles | Viewed by 12456 | Submission Open
Keywords: neural networks; actuator nonlinearities; robust adaptive control; noncanonical nonlinear systems; stability analysis
(This special issue belongs to the Section Control Systems)
Active Flow Control: Recent Advances in Fundamentals and Applications—3rd Edition
edited by , Xin Wen and
submission deadline 31 Oct 2026 | 6 articles | Viewed by 11603 | Submission Open
Keywords: active flow control; sensors and actuators; control of flow instability; flow separation control; mixing control; turbulence control; flow-induced vibration control; aeroacoustics control
(This special issue belongs to the Section Control Systems)
Adaptive Fault-Tolerant Control Strategies for Uncertain Nonlinear Systems: Mitigating Actuator Faults
edited by Jianhui Wang and Kairui Chen
submission deadline 31 Oct 2026 | 7 articles | Viewed by 9906 | Submission Open
Keywords: nonlinear systems; multi-agent systems; adaptive fault-tolerant control; actuator failures; model predictive control; industrial robots or mobile robots
(This special issue belongs to the Section Control Systems)
Advances in Intelligent Control of Actuator Systems
edited by , and Ting Wang
submission deadline 31 Oct 2026 | 6 articles | Viewed by 8483 | Submission Open
Keywords: intelligent control; modeling and analysis; control applications; actuator systems; sensing nonlinear system
(This special issue belongs to the Section Control Systems)
Advanced Actuators and Magnetic Fluid Systems: Design, Control, and Applications
edited by , , Fang Chen and
submission deadline 31 Oct 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 5697 | Submission Open
Keywords: advanced actuators; magnetic fluid systems; design and control; engineering applications; performance optimization; magnetic liquid Devices; microactuators; fluid machinery
(This special issue belongs to the Section High Torque/Power Density Actuators)
Industrial and Biomechanical Applications of Actuators and Robots and Eco-Sutstainability—2nd Edition submission deadline 31 Oct 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1059 | Submission Open
Keywords: industrial applications; actuators for manufacturing; testing and control; actuator design; energy source for actuators; actuators in biomechanics; eco-sustainability
(This special issue belongs to the Section Actuators for Manufacturing Systems)
Recent Developments in Precision Actuation Technologies—2nd Edition submission deadline 31 Oct 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 777 | Submission Open
Keywords: actuator; smart material; actuator design; actuator application; actuator control; active vibration control
(This special issue belongs to the Section Precision Actuators)
Actuator Fault Diagnosis, State Detection and Fault Tolerant Control for Ground and Rail Vehicles, 2nd Edition
edited by Yan Wang, , Qingchao Liu, Liwei Xu and
submission deadline 31 Oct 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 686 | Submission Open
Keywords: ground and rail vehicles; actuator fault diagnosis; state detection; fault-tolerant control
(This special issue belongs to the Section Actuators for Surface Vehicles)
Smart Structures and Precision Engineering for Space Systems: A Special Issue in Honor of Prof. Dr. André Preumont
edited by , David Alaluf and
submission deadline 31 Oct 2026 | Viewed by 476 | Submission Open
Keywords: space structures; precision engineering; smart materials; vibration control; active damping; mechatronics; adaptive/active optics
(This special issue belongs to the Section Aerospace Actuators)
Parallel Kinematic Machines: Actuation, Design, and Applications
edited by Filippo Cortinovis and
submission deadline 31 Oct 2026 | Viewed by 262 | Submission Open
Keywords: parallel kinematic machines; actuation and transmission design; model-based control; force/impedance control for contact-rich tasks; manufacturing with PKRs; drive health-monitoring and diagnostics; variable-impedance actuation; type and structural synthesis; cable-driven parallel robots
(This special issue belongs to the Section Actuators for Robotics)
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