Ergonomic Design and Intelligent Control for Next-Generation Elder Care Robots

Dear Colleagues,

Overview / Scope:
With the global population aging rapidly, the demand for intelligent and ergonomic elder care robots is growing. This Special Issue aims to present the latest advances in the design, control, and application of next-generation elder care robots. The focus is on integrating ergonomic human-centered design with intelligent control systems, ensuring safety, usability, and efficiency in real-world care environments. Contributions may range from theoretical frameworks to practical implementations and experimental evaluations.

Topics of interest include (but are not limited to):

• Human-centered and ergonomic design for elder care robots;
• Intelligent control algorithms for assistive robots;
• Robot perception and decision-making in elder care scenarios;
• Safe human–robot interaction and collaborative robotics;
• Adaptive motion planning and navigation in complex environments;
• Cognitive and emotional modeling for socially assistive robots;
• Wearable sensors and IoT integration for health monitoring;
• Rehabilitation and therapy-focused robotic applications;
• Machine learning and AI techniques for predictive care;
• Case studies, prototypes, and real-world deployments.

Target Audience:
Researchers, engineers, and practitioners in robotics, automation, human–robot interaction, healthcare technology, AI, and rehabilitation engineering.

Types of Papers Accepted:

• Original research articles
• Reviews and state-of-the-art surveys
• Technical notes and short communications
• Case studies and application reports

Goal:
This Special Issue seeks to provide a comprehensive platform for interdisciplinary research that bridges robotics engineering, ergonomics, AI, and healthcare, contributing to safer, smarter, and more effective elder care solutions.

Timeline

• Submission Deadline  30 April 2026
• Publication: Continuous (papers published online upon acceptance)

We look forward to your contributions to advance the future of Elder Care Robot Ergonomic Design.

Why This Special Issue?

• Timeliness: The global population is aging rapidly, creating urgent demand for intelligent elder care solutions. This Special Issue focuses on how ergonomic design and intelligent control can transform elder care robots into safe, adaptive, and effective assistants.
• Novelty: While robotic assistance is well studied in industrial and general service contexts, integrating human-centered ergonomics with intelligent control specifically for elder care is still an emerging frontier with significant potential.
• Interdisciplinary Impact: This Special Issue bridges expertise from robotics, automation, AI, human–robot interaction, healthcare, and ergonomics, providing a platform for researchers and practitioners to collaborate across domains.
• Practical Relevance: Contributions will highlight real-world applications such as mobility assistance, medication management, rehabilitation, fall detection, and social interaction, offering practical solutions for caregivers, healthcare facilities, and elderly individuals.
• Scientific Contribution: This SI will advance methods for robot perception, adaptive control, human–robot interaction, and cognitive modeling, laying the groundwork for the next generation of intelligent and ergonomic elder care robots.
• Global Reach: Elder care robotics is relevant worldwide, addressing challenges in aging populations across both developed and developing regions, ensuring broad readership and strong scientific and industrial interest.

Dr. Ata Jahangir Moshayedi
Prof. Dr. Shuai (Steven) Li
Guest Editors

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.

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