Enhancing Manufacturing through Human–Collaborative Robot Integration
A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Robotics and Automation".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 January 2026 | Viewed by 33
Special Issue Editors
Interests: industrial automation; industrial ergonomics and human factors; ethics
Interests: industrial automation; industrial ergonomics and human factors
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The integration of human–robot collaborative systems into manufacturing environments is fundamentally transforming human–machine interaction, reshaping production workflows, driving demand for new technical and cognitive skills, and redefining the dynamics and goals of human–human collaboration on the factory floor. This Special Issue of Applied Sciences seeks interdisciplinary contributions that explore the technological dimensions of human–robot collaboration in manufacturing contexts. While advances in robotics and AI have made these systems more capable and accessible, their successful adoption hinges not only on engineering solutions, but also on human factors, organizational design, cultural acceptance, and regulatory clarity.
We welcome submissions from a broad range of disciplines. Contributions may address topics such as collaborative system design, safety and trust, workforce training and acceptance, regulatory frameworks, and case studies of implementation in industry. Both empirical studies and conceptual/theoretical papers are encouraged.
As Guest Editors, we warmly invite researchers and practitioners from across domains to contribute their perspectives to this timely and important conversation. Together, we can advance our understanding of how to design, deploy, and regulate collaborative robotic systems that support not only productivity and innovation, but also worker well-being, dignity, and equity.
We also hope readers of this Special Issue find inspiration in the breadth of perspectives offered and gain new insights into what it truly means to integrate robots into human-centered manufacturing.
Dr. Anne-Marie Oostveen
Dr. Iveta Eimontaite
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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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
- human–robot collaboration
- human–machine interaction
- smart manufacturing
- industry 4.0
- human factors
- workforce skills and training
- trust and safety in robotics
- organizational change
- socio-technical systems
- regulation of ai and robotics
- cultural acceptance of robotics
- interdisciplinary robotics research
- human-centered automation
- cognitive skills in manufacturing
- robot adoption and implementation
- technological innovation and work
- robotics in industrial settings
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