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Applied Sciences
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Advances in Intelligent Robotics in the Era 4.0
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Advances in Intelligent Robotics in the Era 4.0

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Robotics and Automation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 August 2023) | Viewed by 30173

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Anja Richert

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute for Product Development and Engineering Design, TH Köln/ University of Applied Sciences, Ubierring 40, 50678 Köln, Germany
Interests: collaborative and social robotics; digital learning and working worlds; (data-driven) innovations

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Era of 4.0 is the era of ongoing automation of traditional manufacturing and industrial practices, using modern smart technology. The rise of intelligent robotics in the Era 4.0 has brought substantial progress to the field of robotics as a whole. In the production sector, e.g., adaptive hybrid production cells in combination with flexible shop floor scheduling algorithms are rapidly emerging and enable individual products at mass customization level and the individual support of workers at the same time. Adaptive, collaborative robotic systems which assess the user state and adapt their support and services to it are significantly increasing in and beyond the production sector. Intelligent social robots are currently massively developed for fields such as the care sector. The aim of this Special Issue is to highlight state-of-the-art contributions to intelligent, adaptive robotics for research and real-world applications in production and care environments and elaborate learnings and cross-sector findings in these fields.

Prof. Dr. Anja Richert
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Era 4.0
  • hybrid production cells
  • shop floor scheduling
  • social robotics
  • robotics in health care
  • adaptive robotic behavior
  • cross-sector learning

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 13373 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Influencing Factors on User Experience in Robot-Assisted Health Monitoring Systems Combining Subjective and Objective Health Data
by Caterina Neef, Katharina Linden and Anja Richert
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(6), 3537; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13063537 - 10 Mar 2023
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3211
Abstract
As the population ages, the demand for care for older adults is increasing. To maintain their independence and autonomy, even with declining health, assistive technologies such as connected medical devices or social robots can be useful. In previous work, we introduced a novel [...] Read more.
As the population ages, the demand for care for older adults is increasing. To maintain their independence and autonomy, even with declining health, assistive technologies such as connected medical devices or social robots can be useful. In previous work, we introduced a novel health monitoring system that combines commercially available products with apps designed specifically for older adults. The system is intended for the long-term collection of subjective and objective health data. In this work, we present an exploratory user experience (UX) and usability study we conducted with older adults as the target group of the system and with younger expert users who tested our system. All participants interacted with a social robot conducting a health assessment and tested sensing devices and an app for data visualization. The UX and usability of the individual components of the system were rated highly in questionnaires in all sessions. All participants also said they would use such a system in their everyday lives, demonstrating the potential of these systems for self-managing users’ health. Finally, we found factors such as previous experience with social robots and technological expertise to have an influence on the reported UX of the users. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Intelligent Robotics in the Era 4.0)
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23 pages, 16418 KiB  
Article
Robotics in Search and Rescue (SAR) Operations: An Ethical and Design Perspective Framework for Response Phase
by Hareesh Chitikena, Filippo Sanfilippo and Shugen Ma
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(3), 1800; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13031800 - 30 Jan 2023
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 22125
Abstract
Every year, especially in urban areas, the population density rises quickly. The effects of catastrophes (i.e., war, earthquake, fire, tsunami) on people are therefore significant and grave. Assisting the impacted people will soon involve human-robot Search and Rescue (SAR) operations. Therefore, it is [...] Read more.
Every year, especially in urban areas, the population density rises quickly. The effects of catastrophes (i.e., war, earthquake, fire, tsunami) on people are therefore significant and grave. Assisting the impacted people will soon involve human-robot Search and Rescue (SAR) operations. Therefore, it is crucial to connect contemporary technology (i.e., robots and cognitive approaches) to SAR to save human lives. However, these operations also call for careful consideration of several factors, including safety, severity, and resources. Hence, ethical issues with technologies in SAR must be taken into consideration at the development stage. In this study, the most relevant ethical and design issues that arise when using robotic and cognitive technology in SAR are discussed with a focus on the response phase. Among the vast variety of SAR robots that are available nowadays, snake robots have shown huge potential; as they could be fitted with sensors and used for transporting tools to hazardous or confined areas that other robots and humans are unable to access. With this perspective, particular emphasis has been put on snake robotics in this study by considering ethical and design issues. This endeavour will contribute to providing a broader knowledge of ethical and technological factors that must be taken into account throughout the design and development of snake robots. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Intelligent Robotics in the Era 4.0)
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19 pages, 6111 KiB  
Article
A Free Simulation Environment Based on ROS for Teaching Autonomous Vehicle Navigation Algorithms
by Marco Antonio Chunab-Rodríguez, Alfredo Santana-Díaz, Jorge Rodríguez-Arce, Emilio Sánchez-Tapia and Carlos Alberto Balbuena-Campuzano
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(14), 7277; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12147277 - 20 Jul 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3844
Abstract
In recent years, engineering degree programs have become fundamental to the teaching of robotics and incorporate many fundamental STEM concepts. Some authors have proposed different platforms for teaching different topics related to robotics, but most of these platforms are not practical for classroom [...] Read more.
In recent years, engineering degree programs have become fundamental to the teaching of robotics and incorporate many fundamental STEM concepts. Some authors have proposed different platforms for teaching different topics related to robotics, but most of these platforms are not practical for classroom use. In the case of teaching autonomous navigation algorithms, the absence of platforms in classrooms limits learning because students are unable to perform practice activities or cannot evaluate and compare different navigation algorithms. The main contribution of this study is the implementation of a free platform for teaching autonomous-driving algorithms based on the Robot Operating System without the use of a physical robot. The authors present a case study using this platform as a teaching tool for instruction in two undergraduate robotic courses. Students evaluated the platform quantitatively and qualitatively. Our study demonstrates that professors and students can carry out different tests and compare different navigation algorithms to analyze their performance under the same conditions in class. In addition, the proposed platform provides realistic representations of environments and data visualizations. The results claim that the use of simulations helps students better understand the theoretical concepts, motivates them to pay attention, and increases their confidence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Intelligent Robotics in the Era 4.0)
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