Estimation and Control for Micro-Scale Cyber-Physical Systems with Applications

Dear Colleague,

Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS), as a technology-oriented and rapidly-growing field consists of a large number of interconnected subsystems subject to constraints, has recently obtained considerable attention in various engineering applications such as integration of micro- and nanoscale components as sensing and actuation in micromachinery systems. On the other hand, considering that CPS is defined based on the interface of the controller, actuators, and sensors through digital blocks evolving according to discrete events (cyber), it will be faced with several challenges in terms of physical system dynamics, network complexities and information flow. Therefore, to ensure smooth and reliable operation of CPSs in real-time, advanced modeling, sensing, estimation and control strategies are required to address these application-oriented systems reliably and profitably. The CPSs need to be more intelligent and more integrated within the industrial environment in which they operate. They must be robust and fault tolerant and, where appropriate, incorporate self-diagnostic and prognostic tools. Furthermore, new solutions are required, particularly in the areas of smart sensing, perception, actuation, signal processing, estimation and control.  

This Special Issue will compile recent efforts contributing to smart sensing, perception, actuation, estimation and control techniques in the context of automation for micro-scale cyber-physical systems (MCPS) composed of micro/nanoscale components in micromachines. Contributions addressing state-of-the-art developments and methodologies, and the perspectives on future developments and applications are also welcomed. Manuscripts should contain both theoretical and practical/experimental-oriented results. The topics of interest include but not limited to:

• Smart sensing and actuation methods for MCPSs
• Sensing network and data fusion optimization for MCPSs
• Enabling technologies including multi agent systems and the internet of things (IoT) in MCPSs
• Artificial-intelligent based on estimation and control for MCPSs
• Robust, adaptive, resilient and intelligent-supported control method for MCPSs
• Fault detection and fault-tolerant control/reliable control for MCPSs
• Supervisory control and big data acquisition technologies for MCPSs
• Software architectures to enable evolving MCPS
• Experimental and numerical validation of MCPSs, especially in the areas of MEMS, micro/nanorobotics, biological micro-CPS, micromachines, micro-forming, micro-cutting process, Industry 4.0

Prof. Dr. Hamid Reza Karimi
Prof. Dr. Birgit Vogel-Heuser
Prof. Dr. Ruwan Gopura
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. Micromachines 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 2100 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.