Climbing Robots and Autonomous Systems: Mechanisms, Intelligence, and Real-World Applications

Dear Colleagues,

The development of climbing robots and autonomous systems has become increasingly relevant as we seek innovative solutions for applications in inspection, maintenance, rescue operations, and the exploration of complex or hazardous environments. The challenges involved in designing robots that can scale vertical surfaces with precision, efficiency, and robustness are immense, encompassing disciplines from robotics and material science to intelligent perception and control systems. This Special Issue, “Climbing Robots and Autonomous Systems: Mechanisms, Intelligence, and Real-World Applications”, invites original research and review articles that explore new concepts, methodologies, and technologies in the field of climbing robots and autonomous systems.

Topics of Interest

We welcome contributions that address, but are not limited to, the following areas:

• Mechanisms for Climbing Robots and Autonomous Systems: Novel designs and actuation mechanisms.
• Material Innovations: Smart materials and surface coatings to enhance adhesion, reduce slippage, and improve durability.
• Control Systems: Advanced control strategies, including adaptive and autonomous controls.
• Sensing and Perception: Sensor integration for environmental awareness, navigation, and obstacle avoidance.
• Energy Efficiency: Power management strategies and energy-efficient designs to enhance operational longevity.
• AI and Intelligence in Climbing Robots and Autonomous Systems: AI-driven decision-making processes for complex navigation and task execution.
• Applications and Case Studies: Real-world applications of climbing robots and autonomous systems, including in construction, inspection, maintenance, disaster recovery, and extraterrestrial exploration contexts.

Dr. Weinan Chen
Dr. Haifei Zhu
Prof. Dr. Xuefeng Zhou
Prof. Dr. Chaoqun Wang
Prof. Dr. Qiang 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 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. Machines 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 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.