Enabling Intelligent Human–Robot Interaction: Design, Operation, and Learning

A special issue of Electronics (ISSN 2079-9292). This special issue belongs to the section "Artificial Intelligence".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 December 2025) | Viewed by 796

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20783, USA
Interests: industrial AI; machine learning; deep learning; computer vision; human–robot collaboration
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The rapid advancement of robotics and artificial intelligence has substantially expanded the possibilities for intelligent human–robot interactions (HRIs), with significant implications across diverse sectors including healthcare, industry, education, and social services. The Special Issue entitled "Enabling Intelligent Human–Robot Interaction: Design, Operation, and Learning" presents state-of-the-art research that contributes to developing effective, intuitive, and safe collaborations between humans and robotic systems.

The primary focus of this topical collection includes three critical areas of investigation. First, novel design methodologies that enhance robotic systems' capabilities for seamless and intuitive human interaction will be examined. Second, operational strategies that support robust, reliable, and context-sensitive robot behavior in dynamic, human-centric environments will be analyzed. Third, learning algorithms and frameworks that allow robots to adapt, personalize, and optimize interactions based on historical data and user feedback will be explored.

The scope of this Special Issue encompasses topics including, but not limited to:

  • Design principles and methodologies for intuitive HRIs;
  • Real-time operational and control strategies for interactive robotic systems;
  • Human-centric robot learning and adaptive methods;
  • Human factors and user-experience considerations in HRIs;
  • Multimodal communication interfaces in robotic applications;
  • Ethical, social, and safety considerations associated with intelligent HRI systems;
  • Empirical case studies demonstrating the practical implementation and deployment of intelligent HRIs.

The primary objective of this collection is to provide a comprehensive and contemporary synthesis of intelligent HRI research, bridging foundational theoretical frameworks and practical implementation. The collection seeks to facilitate interdisciplinary discourse among researchers and practitioners, encourage collaborative exploration, and identify future research trajectories addressing current challenges and opportunities within the field.

This Special Issue will complement existing literature by specifically integrating design considerations, operational control mechanisms, and adaptive learning approaches within HRI systems—domains that have historically been investigated independently. This issue uniquely positions itself to advance interdisciplinary understanding and innovation by synthesizing these elements into a cohesive collection, contributing significantly to ongoing research endeavors and developments in human–robot interaction.

Dr. Haodong Chen
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Electronics 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 interaction
  • intelligent robots
  • robot learning
  • interaction design
  • adaptive systems
  • multimodal communication
  • user-centered robotics
  • robot operation
  • HRI ethics
  • safety

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

19 pages, 2708 KB  
Article
A TPU-Based 3D Printed Robotic Hand: Design and Its Impact on Human–Robot Interaction
by Younglim Choi, Minho Lee, Seongmin Yea, Seunghwan Kim and Hyunseok Kim
Electronics 2026, 15(2), 262; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics15020262 - 7 Jan 2026
Viewed by 580
Abstract
This study outlines the design and evaluation of a biomimetic robotic hand tailored for Human–Robot Interaction (HRI), focusing on improvements in tactile fidelity driven by material choice. Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) was selected over polylactic acid (PLA) based on its reported elastomeric characteristics and [...] Read more.
This study outlines the design and evaluation of a biomimetic robotic hand tailored for Human–Robot Interaction (HRI), focusing on improvements in tactile fidelity driven by material choice. Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) was selected over polylactic acid (PLA) based on its reported elastomeric characteristics and mechanical compliance described in prior literature. Rather than directly matching human skin properties, TPU was perceived as providing a softer and more comfortable tactile interaction compared to rigid PLA. The robotic hand was anatomically reconstructed from an open-source model and integrated with AX-12A and MG90S actuators to simplify wiring and enhance motion precision. A custom PCB, built around an ATmega2560 microcontroller, enables real-time communication with ROS-based upper-level control systems. Angular displacement analysis of repeated gesture motions confirmed the high repeatability and consistency of the system. A repeated-measures user study involving 47 participants was conducted to compare the PLA- and TPU-based prototypes during interactive tasks such as handshakes and gesture commands. The TPU hand received significantly higher ratings in tactile realism, grip satisfaction, and perceived responsiveness (p < 0.05). Qualitative feedback further supported its superior emotional acceptance and comfort. These findings indicate that incorporating TPU in robotic hand design not only enhances mechanical performance but also plays a vital role in promoting emotionally engaging and natural human–robot interactions, making it a promising approach for affective HRI applications. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop