Emerging Paradigms in AI, Autonomous Systems, and Intelligent Technologies

A special issue of Technologies (ISSN 2227-7080). This special issue belongs to the section "Information and Communication Technologies".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 724

Special Issue Editors

*
Website
Guest Editor
Theory of Mechanisms and Robots Department, Faculty of Industrial Engineering and Robotics, National University of Science and Technology Polytechnic Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: machines; bioengineering; nuclear power; materials science
* We mourn the passing of Dr. Florian Ion Tiberiu Petrescu in August 2025 and extend our condolences to his family. He will be deeply missed.
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Department of Mechanisms and Robots Theory, National University of Science and Technology Polytechnic Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei Street 313, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: machines; bioengineering; automation; robotics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Mechanisms and Robots Theory, National University of Science and Technology Polytechnic Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: nano and functional materials; autonomous vehicles; artificial intelligence; autonomous control; autonomous and intelligent systems; material science; robots; mechanical design and manufacturing; mechatronics; nano; autonomous mobility as a service; robots and AI; rapid prototyping

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Antal Bejczy Center for Intelligent Robotics, Óbuda University, Bécsi út 96/B, 1034 Budapest, Hungary
Interests: cyber-physical systems; telerobotics; networked control systems; nonlinear and delayed feedback systems and 3D virtual reality-based collaboration; agrifood robotics; Internet of Things (IoT); innovation management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We invite you to contribute to this Special Issue and share your latest findings on automation and autonomous systems. Today, automation has become not just extremely useful but even indispensable in all modern industrial areas. Sometimes, even intelligent automation is not enough. However, it is needed to achieve a certain level of autonomy for industrial systems, giving them the ability to increase the quality of their work, the degree of safety offered, and the possibility of making decisions in real time.

Those prepared for the future have the determination to face any situation and will welcome change everywhere. On the other hand, those who cannot tolerate change will bury their heads in the ground, believing wrongly that change will not happen if they choose not to see it. Machines, or robots, as they are often called today, are meant to help us in our work, ease our burdens, and work hard for us, enabling us all to live better. As they are man-made and progressive creations, they are not meant to be treated like slaves but rather as a tool for bringing about a better future. Young people play an essential role here, even if society wants to marginalize them and teach them its old ways. Young people have a lot of energy, respond well to training, and have significant capability. They have high hopes and adapt more easily to the new. Young people know how to dream and how to fulfill those dreams. Together with them, we will build a new, better, safer, more peaceful, and more modern society. Only then will robots be applicable for their ultimate humanitarian task and help us conquer outer space in our attempt to expand into the universe.

We welcome the submission of articles or reviews covering, but not limited to, the following fields:

Topic 1: Smart Mechatronics, IoT, and Industrial Intelligence

    Subtopics:

  1. IoT and intelligent sensors in mechatronics—low-cost, scalable solutions;
  2. Additive manufacturing and digital twins in industry and education;
  3. AI in predictive maintenance and industrial process optimization;
  4. Applications for precision agriculture, MedTech, and STEM education;
  5. Sustainability and cybersecurity in intelligent systems.

Topic 2: Advanced Autonomous Systems and Applied Artificial Intelligence

    Subtopics:

  1. AI in autonomous decision making and real-time processing;
  2. Computer vision, XAI, and human–machine interactions;
  3. Autonomous systems in healthcare, logistics, and transportation;
  4. Swarm intelligence and multi-agent systems for distributed applications;
  5. Edge AI and autonomous systems in resource-constrained networks.

This Special Issue seeks interdisciplinary contributions bridging software-, hardware-, and application-level innovation across smart, autonomous, and cyber–physical systems.

Dr. Florian Ion Tiberiu Petrescu
Dr. Liviu Marian Ungureanu
Dr. Iulian Sorin Munteanu
Prof. Dr. Péter Galambos
Guest Editors

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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. Technologies 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.

Keywords

  • mechatronics
  • robotics
  • artificial intelligence
  • computer vision
  • Internet of Things (IoT)
  • cyber-physical systems
  • human–machine interaction
  • MEMS/NEMS
  • sensors and actuators
  • digital twins
  • swarm intelligence
  • edge computing
  • virtual/augmented reality
  • renewable energy

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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24 pages, 2190 KB  
Article
Enhancing the A* Algorithm for Efficient Route Planning in Agricultural Environments with a Hybrid Heuristic Approach and Path Smoothing
by Antonios Chatzisavvas and Minas Dasygenis
Technologies 2025, 13(9), 389; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies13090389 (registering DOI) - 1 Sep 2025
Abstract
The A* algorithm is broadly identified for its application in diverse fields, such as agriculture, robotics and GPS technology, due to its effectiveness in route planning. Despite its broad utility, the algorithm faces inherent limitations regarding operational efficiency and the length of the [...] Read more.
The A* algorithm is broadly identified for its application in diverse fields, such as agriculture, robotics and GPS technology, due to its effectiveness in route planning. Despite its broad utility, the algorithm faces inherent limitations regarding operational efficiency and the length of the paths it generates. Addressing these constraints, this paper proposes an enhancement to the traditional A* algorithm that significantly improves its performance. Our innovative approach integrates Euclidean and Chebyshev distances into a single heuristic function, thereby enhancing pathfinding accuracy and flexibility. This combined heuristic leverages the strengths of both distance measures: the Euclidean distance provides an accurate straight-line measure between points, while the Chebyshev distance effectively handles scenarios allowing diagonal movement. Furthermore, we incorporate Bezier curves into the algorithm to smooth the generated paths. This addition is particularly advantageous in agricultural environments, where machinery must navigate complex terrains without causing damage to crops. The smooth paths produced by Bezier curves ensure more efficient and safer navigation in such settings. Comprehensive experiments conducted in various agricultural scenarios demonstrate the superior performance of the enhanced algorithm. These results reveal that the improved algorithm not only reduces the computation time needed for route planning but also generates shorter and smoother paths compared to the standard A* algorithm. The proposed approach significantly enhances the operational efficiency and route optimization capabilities of the A* algorithm, making it more suitable for complex and dynamic applications in agriculture. This advancement also holds promise for improving navigation systems in various other domains. Full article
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23 pages, 2256 KB  
Article
Tsukamoto Fuzzy Logic Controller for Motion Control Applications: Assessment of Energy Performance
by Luis F. Olmedo-García, José R. García-Martínez, Juvenal Rodríguez-Reséndiz, Brenda S. Dublan-Barragán, Edson E. Cruz-Miguel and Omar A. Barra-Vázquez
Technologies 2025, 13(9), 387; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies13090387 (registering DOI) - 1 Sep 2025
Abstract
This work presents a control strategy designed to reduce the energy consumption of direct current motors by implementing smooth motion trajectories in a point-to-point control system, utilizing a fuzzy logic controller based on the Tsukamoto inference method. The proposed controller’s energy performance was [...] Read more.
This work presents a control strategy designed to reduce the energy consumption of direct current motors by implementing smooth motion trajectories in a point-to-point control system, utilizing a fuzzy logic controller based on the Tsukamoto inference method. The proposed controller’s energy performance was experimentally compared to that of a conventional PID controller, considering three motion profiles: parabolic, trapezoidal, and S-curve. The results demonstrate that the combination of the fuzzy controller with smooth trajectories effectively reduces energy consumption without compromising motion accuracy. Under no-load conditions, average energy savings of 11.77% for the parabolic profile, 9.27% for the trapezoidal profile, and 3.45% for the S-curve profile were achieved. This improvement remained consistent even when a load was introduced to the system. To validate these findings, the coefficient of variation was calculated, revealing lower dispersion in the fuzzy controller’s results, indicating greater consistency in energy efficiency. Furthermore, Welch’s t-tests were conducted for each profile and load condition, with all p-values falling below the 0.05 significance threshold, confirming the statistical relevance of the observed differences. Full article
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Review

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26 pages, 304 KB  
Review
Vibration Measurement and Monitoring in Railway Vehicles
by Gabriel Popa, Razvan Andrei Oprea, Emil Tudor, Marius Alin Gheti and Iulian Sorin Munteanu
Technologies 2025, 13(8), 370; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies13080370 - 19 Aug 2025
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Abstract
The main purpose of this paper is to present a comprehensive and systematically organized overview of the current state of vibration monitoring and measurement techniques used in railway stock. It aims to raise awareness of significant technological developments in recent years and their [...] Read more.
The main purpose of this paper is to present a comprehensive and systematically organized overview of the current state of vibration monitoring and measurement techniques used in railway stock. It aims to raise awareness of significant technological developments in recent years and their practical applications. The scope of the analysis is strongly informed by established European norms, fundamental research efforts across the continent, and the practical needs of the railway sector. Last but not least, we hope this paper serves as a valuable reference point for engineers, researchers, and decision-makers working within the complex context of railway system design, maintenance, and evolving regulations. For effective monitoring of railway vehicle vibrations, a combination of specialized measurement methods and system architectures is recommended. These approaches are carefully developed to capture the dynamic responses of critical components of the railway vehicle, thereby providing invaluable data. This information is essential for thorough condition monitoring, improved ride comfort, and a deeper structural understanding of vehicle quality throughout its lifecycle. Full article
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