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Electronics
Special Issues
Communication Systems and Manipulators for Robots and Unmanned Systems
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Communication Systems and Manipulators for Robots and Unmanned Systems

A special issue of Electronics (ISSN 2079-9292). This special issue belongs to the section "Systems & Control Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 January 2025) | Viewed by 8214

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Plamen Zahariev

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Telecommunications, University of Ruse “Angel Kanchev”, 7017 Ruse, Bulgaria
Interests: communication systems; network technologies; wireless telecommunications; unmanned systems; robots; 3D technologies; cryptography
Dr. Georgi Valentinov Hristov

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Telecommunications, University of Ruse “Angel Kanchev”, 7017 Ruse, Bulgaria
Interests: telecommunications; IP networks; unmanned systems; robots; UAVs; telemetry systems; manipulators; photogrammetry; 3D technologies
Dr. Ivan Beloev

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Transport, University of Ruse “Angel Kanchev”, 7017 Ruse, Bulgaria
Interests: transport systems; vehicular technologies; unmanned systems; robots; UAVs; mechatronics; aerial manipulators
Dr. Vassilis C. Moulianitis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Product and Systems Design Engineering, University of the Aegean, 8110 Mytilini, Greece
Interests: mechatronics design; gripper design; robot kinematics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The technological advancements in many areas, such as electronics, telecommunications and mechatronics, and the continuous research activities related to the design and the use of the unmanned systems have resulted in the development of various aerial, ground and underwater robots and drones. The use of these systems has led to the automation of many processes; to newer, improved or more efficient research activities; and to many new discoveries. Above all, it has clearly presented the potential of unmanned systems and robots and their importance for the safer, faster and successful completion of planned tasks, as well as the vital role which they will play in the future of humanity. Nowadays, unmanned systems and robots are used in many different domains and for various applications, including for military and security applications, remote surveys of critical infrastructure, observations of forests and agricultural crops, livestock monitoring, etc. With the wide acceptance of robots and unmanned systems, the need for their use in new domains and for more advanced applications is becoming increasingly evident. This calls for the development of new types of manipulators, actuators and end effectors which can respond to the increasing need for automation of the processes using drones and robots, as well as for the development of new communications systems and technologies, which will make robots and drones more reliable and more secure, and will allow them to work autonomously or in swarms.

This Special Issue aims to present interesting papers focusing on the recent and emerging applications for robots and unmanned systems, which are related to the integration or use of novel manipulators or communication systems. The topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

  • Innovative manipulators, actuators and end effectors for unmanned systems and robots;
  • The development and integration of payload mechanisms and systems for drones and robots;
  • Present technologies, emerging solutions and applications for tethered drones and robots;
  • Advanced communication systems and interfaces for unmanned systems and robots;
  • Data confidentiality and data integrity solutions for robots and drones;
  • Interfaces and communication technologies for the teleoperation of unmanned systems;
  • The design, development and use of collaborative robots and systems;
  • Solutions and systems for the coordination of multiple robots and robot swarms;
  • Artificial intelligence solutions for the autonomous operations of drones and robots;
  • Attachable and combinable drones and robots;
  • Extensions for the grasping, embedding and attaching of drones and robots;
  • Visual and contact-based mechanisms for surveying and inspection with robots and drones.

Dr. Plamen Zahariev
Dr. Georgi Valentinov Hristov
Dr. Ivan Beloev
Dr. Vassilis C. Moulianitis
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.

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

  • unmanned systems and robots
  • manipulators, actuators and end effectors
  • communication systems for drones and robots
  • tethered drones and robots
  • payloads for drones and robots
  • extensions for robots and drones
  • intelligent drones and robots
  • autonomous navigation and teleoperation

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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27 pages, 35787 KiB  
Article
Methodology and Challenges of Implementing Advanced Technological Solutions in Small and Medium Shipyards: The Case Study of the Mari4_YARD Project
by Lorenzo Grazi, Abel Feijoo Alonso, Adam Gąsiorek, Afra Maria Pertusa Llopis, Alejandro Grajeda, Alexandros Kanakis, Ana Rodriguez Vidal, Andrea Parri, Felix Vidal, Ioannis Ergas, Ivana Zeljkovic, Javier Pamies Durá, Javier Perez Mein, Konstantinos Katsampiris-Salgado, Luís F. Rocha, Lorena Núñez Rodriguez, Marcelo R. Petry, Michal Neufeld, Nikos Dimitropoulos, Nina Köster, Ratko Mimica, Sara Varão Fernandes, Simona Crea, Sotiris Makris, Stavros Giartzas, Vincent Settler and Jawad Masoodadd Show full author list remove Hide full author list
Electronics 2025, 14(8), 1597; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics14081597 - 15 Apr 2025
Viewed by 300
Abstract
Small to medium-sized shipyards play a crucial role in the European naval industry. However, the globalization of technology has increased competition, posing significant challenges to shipyards, particularly in domestic markets for short sea, work, and inland vessels. Many shipyard operations still rely on [...] Read more.
Small to medium-sized shipyards play a crucial role in the European naval industry. However, the globalization of technology has increased competition, posing significant challenges to shipyards, particularly in domestic markets for short sea, work, and inland vessels. Many shipyard operations still rely on manual, labor-intensive tasks performed by highly skilled operators. In response, the adoption of new tools is essential to enhance efficiency and competitiveness. This paper presents a methodology for developing a human-centric portfolio of advanced technologies tailored for shipyard environments, covering processes such as shipbuilding, retrofitting, outfitting, and maintenance. The proposed technological solutions, which have achieved high technology readiness levels, include 3D modeling and digitalization, robotics, augmented and virtual reality, and occupational exoskeletons. Key findings from real-scale demonstrations are discussed, along with major development and implementation challenges. Finally, best practices and recommendations are provided to support both technology developers seeking fully tested tools and end users aiming for seamless adoption. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Communication Systems and Manipulators for Robots and Unmanned Systems)
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22 pages, 13329 KiB  
Article
Intelligent Human–Robot Interaction Assistant for Collaborative Robots
by Oleksandr Sokolov, Vladyslav Andrusyshyn, Angelina Iakovets and Vitalii Ivanov
Electronics 2025, 14(6), 1160; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics14061160 - 16 Mar 2025
Viewed by 478
Abstract
Collaborative robots are rapidly gaining popularity and will occupy 33% of the industrial robot market by 2030 due to their ability to adapt to dynamic environments where traditional automation approaches lack flexibility. Available solutions in the market are characterized by the generality of [...] Read more.
Collaborative robots are rapidly gaining popularity and will occupy 33% of the industrial robot market by 2030 due to their ability to adapt to dynamic environments where traditional automation approaches lack flexibility. Available solutions in the market are characterized by the generality of the pod without considering the specifics of a particular collaborative workplace. This feature creates barriers to developing human–robot interaction (HRI) interfaces. The proposed study developed a Collaborative Robotics Assistant (CobRA) system to address these challenges. Considering the workplace’s peculiarities, this intelligent HRI system provides seamless programming for collaborative robots right in the workplace. CobRA combines machine vision and convolutional neural networks to detect objects in real-time using a depth-sensing camera and uses a projector to visualize the control interface interactively. The system supports high-level commands such as object manipulation and placement by automating programming. The solution was tested in a SmartTechLab and program environment where it demonstrated significant efficiency gains, reducing errors and programming time compared to traditional methods. This development opens new perspectives for improving the safety and efficiency of human–robot interaction in dynamic industrial environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Communication Systems and Manipulators for Robots and Unmanned Systems)
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19 pages, 8196 KiB  
Article
Human–Robot Interaction Using Dynamic Hand Gesture for Teleoperation of Quadruped Robots with a Robotic Arm
by Jianan Xie, Zhen Xu, Jiayu Zeng, Yuyang Gao and Kenji Hashimoto
Electronics 2025, 14(5), 860; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics14050860 - 21 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1041
Abstract
Human–Robot Interaction (HRI) using hand gesture recognition offers an effective and non-contact approach to enhancing operational intuitiveness and user convenience. However, most existing studies primarily focus on either static sign language recognition or the tracking of hand position and orientation in space. These [...] Read more.
Human–Robot Interaction (HRI) using hand gesture recognition offers an effective and non-contact approach to enhancing operational intuitiveness and user convenience. However, most existing studies primarily focus on either static sign language recognition or the tracking of hand position and orientation in space. These approaches often prove inadequate for controlling complex robotic systems. This paper proposes an advanced HRI system leveraging dynamic hand gestures for controlling quadruped robots equipped with a robotic arm. The proposed system integrates both semantic and pose information from dynamic gestures to enable comprehensive control over the robot’s diverse functionalities. First, a Depth–MediaPipe framework is introduced to facilitate the precise three-dimensional (3D) coordinate extraction of 21 hand bone keypoints. Subsequently, a Semantic-Pose to Motion (SPM) model is developed to analyze and interpret both the pose and semantic aspects of hand gestures. This model translates the extracted 3D coordinate data into corresponding mechanical actions in real-time, encompassing quadruped robot locomotion, robotic arm end-effector tracking, and semantic-based command switching. Extensive real-world experiments demonstrate the proposed system’s effectiveness in achieving real-time interaction and precise control, underscoring its potential for enhancing the usability of complex robotic platforms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Communication Systems and Manipulators for Robots and Unmanned Systems)
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13 pages, 2007 KiB  
Article
The Design and Real-Time Optimization of an EtherCAT Master for Multi-Axis Motion Control
by Jianjun Zhang, Manjiang Xia, Han Li, Shasha Li and Juan Shi
Electronics 2024, 13(15), 3101; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics13153101 - 5 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1838
Abstract
To address the issues of low bandwidth, weak real-time performance, and poor synchronization in traditional fieldbuses for multi-axis motion control, a solution for the implementation of an EtherCAT master based on the IgH EtherCAT Master open-source software framework and an embedded hardware platform [...] Read more.
To address the issues of low bandwidth, weak real-time performance, and poor synchronization in traditional fieldbuses for multi-axis motion control, a solution for the implementation of an EtherCAT master based on the IgH EtherCAT Master open-source software framework and an embedded hardware platform is proposed. On a hardware platform centered around the AM64x Sitara processor, a Linux real-time operating system based on the Xenomai real-time kernel is constructed, and the IgH master framework is ported to realize a high-performance EtherCAT master. The configuration process of the EtherCAT bus is detailed, a master application program is developed, and methods for the real-time performance optimization of the master—such as exclusive CPU usage by the master process and the optimization of the network card driver—are proposed. Finally, experiments are conducted on a six-axis servo control platform, with the packet analysis of the periodic EtherCAT data frames sent by the master. The experimental results show that the optimized master, under a high-speed communication cycle of 500 microseconds, maintains maximum jitter within 20 microseconds and average jitter within 1 microsecond, meeting the requirements for high-precision multi-axis motion control. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Communication Systems and Manipulators for Robots and Unmanned Systems)
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Review

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19 pages, 2723 KiB  
Review
Study of Human–Robot Interactions for Assistive Robots Using Machine Learning and Sensor Fusion Technologies
by Ravi Raj and Andrzej Kos
Electronics 2024, 13(16), 3285; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics13163285 - 19 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3639
Abstract
In recent decades, the potential of robots’ understanding, perception, learning, and action has been widely expanded due to the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into almost every system. Cooperation between AI and human beings will be responsible for the bright future of AI [...] Read more.
In recent decades, the potential of robots’ understanding, perception, learning, and action has been widely expanded due to the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into almost every system. Cooperation between AI and human beings will be responsible for the bright future of AI technology. Moreover, for a perfect manually or automatically controlled machine or device, the device must perform together with a human through multiple levels of automation and assistance. Humans and robots cooperate or interact in various ways. With the enhancement of robot efficiencies, they can perform more work through an automatic method; therefore, we need to think about cooperation between humans and robots, the required software architectures, and information about the designs of user interfaces. This paper describes the most important strategies of human–robot interactions and the relationships between several control techniques and cooperation techniques using sensor fusion and machine learning (ML). Based on the behavior and thinking of humans, a human–robot interaction (HRI) framework is studied and explored in this article to make attractive, safe, and efficient systems. Additionally, research on intention recognition, compliance control, and perception of the environment by elderly assistive robots for the optimization of HRI is investigated in this paper. Furthermore, we describe the theory of HRI and explain the different kinds of interactions and required details for both humans and robots to perform different kinds of interactions, including the circumstances-based evaluation technique, which is the most important criterion for assistive robots. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Communication Systems and Manipulators for Robots and Unmanned Systems)
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