Internet of Robotic Things

Dear Colleagues,

The Internet of Robotic Things (IoRT) is an emerging interdisciplinary paradigm at the intersection of robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), edge computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT). It focuses on developing robotic agents that are autonomous and context-aware, seamlessly connected, and capable of communicating and collaborating in dynamic environments to perform complex tasks. Recent advances in distributed intelligence, sensor fusion, low-latency networking, and cloud–edge continuum computing have paved the way for scalable and adaptive IoRT systems across various domains such as precision agriculture, smart manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, domestic task automation, environmental monitoring, and disaster response. While significant progress has been made, several research challenges remain in building scalable, resilient, and secure IoRT systems that can operate effectively in dynamic and decentralized environments.

This Special Issue aims to bring together researchers and practitioners to explore recent developments, innovative frameworks, and practical solutions in the Internet of Robotic Things. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• AI-based perception, navigation, and decision-making in robotic systems
• Swarm intelligence and multi-agent robotic coordination
• Edge and fog computing architectures for real-time robotic control
• Interoperability frameworks and middleware for heterogeneous IoRT platforms
• Blockchain and decentralized systems for IoRT data and service management
• Federated and distributed learning in robotic applications
• Digital twins and simulation platforms for IoRT systems
• Trust, privacy, and security in connected robotic ecosystems
• Human–robot collaboration and interaction design
• Self-healing, fault-tolerant, and resilient IoRT system architectures
• Ethics, governance, and policy considerations in autonomous robotic deployments
• Case studies, prototypes, and real-world deployments of IoRT solutions

We welcome original research articles, review papers, and case studies aligned with the above topics. All submissions will undergo the journal’s standard peer-review process.

Dr. Abdullah Yousafzai
Dr. Stefano Rinaldi
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 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. Future Internet is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 1600 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.