Search Results (653)

Ball vegetables (such as cabbage, Chinese cabbage, broccoli, etc.) hold an important position in the vegetable industry due to their unique morphology and diverse applications and are widely favored by both consumers and the market. However, the harvesting of Ball vegetables poses significant challenges to agricultural production and market supply. Traditional manual harvesting struggles to meet the rapid demands of large-scale cultivation, primarily due to its high labor intensity and time-consuming nature, compounded by the increasingly prominent issues of aging and shortage of agricultural labor in recent years. As an alternative, intelligent harvesting robot technology, through integration with optimized cropping practices, innovations in preservation techniques, and improvements in processing workflows, offers an effective solution for expanding market planting areas and enhancing production efficiency. However, such harvesting robots still require further optimization and improvement in terms of adaptability, operational efficiency, and damage control. To systematically review the research progress and current status of this field, this study employs a bibliometric analysis approach to evaluate the current performance characteristics of various types of heading vegetable harvesting robots, aiming to provide a reference for future technological developments. This review analyzes solutions suitable for low-damage, high-quality harvesting of Ball vegetables in modern agriculture from five dimensions: identification and localization, row-following mechanisms, cutting mechanisms, pulling and conveying mechanisms, and leaf-removal mechanisms. It also summarizes the main challenges currently facing harvesting equipment, including the complexity of harvest targets, diversification of crop varieties and cultivation patterns, and harvest-induced damage to Ball vegetables. Finally, this review provides a future outlook on heading vegetable harvesting from four perspectives: research on the characteristics of Ball vegetables, investigation into harvest-induced damage mechanisms, improvement in machinery adaptability, and enhancement in equipment versatility and intelligence. Full article

Water is fundamental to urban sustainability, structuring the urban water cycle from supply to wastewater treatment and discharge. Basic sanitation services are a core component of this system, directly influencing sustainable water use and environmental quality. Sanitation 4.0 applies Industry 4.0 technologies to enable real-time monitoring, data-driven management, and process optimization. This study investigates how the implementation of Industry 4.0 technologies transforms the management of basic sanitation services. A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to provide a theoretical foundation and identify research gaps. Articles were selected using a structured and reproducible method, and qualitative data were coded and analyzed with NVivo software. The results indicate that Sanitation 4.0 encompasses diverse applications, with artificial intelligence (AI), big data and data analytics, and internet of things (IoT) emerging as the most frequently implemented technologies in water distribution, wastewater treatment, and service management. IoT demonstrated broad versatility, while robots and augmented reality remain underexplored. Data security emerged as the area most in need of attention. This research concludes that Industry 4.0 technologies are reshaping the management and delivery of sanitation services, supporting innovation and progress toward universal access. Full article

The convergence of artificial intelligence and robotic surgery is redefining the management of genitourinary cancers by enhancing diagnostic accuracy, surgical precision, and training efficiency. This narrative review explores recent advancements in artificial intelligence applications across the cancer care continuum, with a focus on prostate, kidney, and bladder malignancies. Artificial intelligence tools, particularly those based on machine learning and deep learning, have demonstrated strong performance in analyzing imaging data, segmenting tumors, predicting pathological features, and supporting clinical decision-making. Intraoperatively, artificial intelligence enables skill assessment, personalized feedback, and real-time navigation by processing data from surgical videos and robotic system sensors. Augmented reality and intraoperative modeling further enhance visualization and margin control during complex procedures. The review also discusses emerging technologies such as single-port robotic platforms, which offer advantages in confined anatomical spaces and support less invasive approaches. Additionally, the growing field of telesurgery is addressed, highlighting its feasibility for complex urologic operations across vast distances. While many of these innovations are still in early stages of clinical validation, their integration into practice has the potential to improve oncologic and functional outcomes, expand access to expert care, and foster the development of next-generation surgical strategies in urologic oncology. Full article

This paper examines the integration of three-dimensional (3D) printing and robotic fabrication in contemporary architectural design, with a focus on overcoming the technical limitations that constrain large-scale adoption. While additive manufacturing enables the production of complex geometries and customized structures, its standalone application remains limited by fixed build volumes, planar deposition, lack of tensile reinforcement, open-loop process control, and single-process extrusion. To address these constraints, the paper proposes a functional integration framework that systematically maps robotic fabrication capabilities onto these five critical limitations. Evidence from recent studies demonstrates that such integration has already led to measurable advances, including up to a 90-fold increase in printable volume through mobile robotic systems, robotically fabricated reinforcement systems (e.g., Mesh Mold) achieving post-crack behavior comparable to conventional reinforced concrete, and the implementation of closed-loop sensor-based process control to enhance interlayer bonding. Despite these achievements, interdisciplinary collaboration across architecture, structural engineering, materials science, and robotics remains largely fragmented and is predominantly confined to academic and pilot-scale projects, such as the ETH Zurich DFAB House. Regulatory progress is also limited, with only isolated code-compliant implementations under frameworks such as ICC-ES AC509 and ISO/ASTM 52939. Persistent barriers including high capital costs, loss of information in BIM-to-fabrication workflows, anisotropic material behavior, and the absence of long-term durability standards continue to restrict widespread adoption. These findings suggest that advancing robotic additive manufacturing in architecture requires not only technological innovation but also coordinated cross-disciplinary integration, standardized testing protocols, and harmonized regulatory frameworks. Full article

The advent of robotic surgery has revolutionized multiple medical fields, notably in urology, gynecology, and both general and cardiovascular surgery. This article aims to explore the journey of robotic-assisted surgery (multi/single-port) in abdomen and pelvic surgeries, tracing its historical roots, examining its current landscape, and considering the potential future impact. A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted through PubMed/MEDLINE, utilizing keywords such as “robotic surgical systems,” “robotic surgery devices,” and “robotics AND urology.” Reference lists from selected articles were also explored to ensure a broad scope of understanding. The focus was on robotic systems designed for laparoscopic urological surgeries, all of which have been granted regulatory approval for clinical use. The historical trajectory of robotic surgery is traced back to the late 1980s with early systems like the Probot^®, preceding the transformative introduction of the daVinci^® system in the early 2000s. In addition to daVinci^®, the article introduces newer robotic platforms, including Senhance^®, Revo-I^®, Versius^®, Avatera^®, Hinotori^®, Edge^®, Shurui and HugoTM RAS, which are emerging as serious competitors. While daVinci^® has been the dominant force in robotic surgery for over a decade, these new systems are making significant strides with innovative designs, enhanced precision, and improved cost-efficiency. The growing competition among these platforms promises to expand their potential applications, increase accessibility, and optimize surgical outcomes across various specialties. Furthermore, as new technologies continue to evolve, there is a clear need for more extensive clinical trials and real-world data to assess their long-term impact on surgical practices, healthcare delivery, and patient outcomes. It remains to be seen how these advanced systems will integrate into healthcare infrastructures and their ultimate role in shaping the future of minimally invasive surgery. Full article

Breast cancer surgery has evolved from radical procedures to increasingly individualized and less invasive approaches. This narrative review contextualizes this evolution, synthesizes current evidence supporting surgical de-escalation, and examines emerging strategies that may further reduce the need for surgery. The manuscript is based on a structured appraisal of PubMed/MEDLINE literature and major international guidelines, prioritizing randomized trials, prospective studies, and consensus statements. Contemporary practice is characterized by progressive reduction in both breast and axillary surgery, enabled by advances in tumour biology, neoadjuvant systemic therapy, sentinel node strategies, and oncoplastic techniques. Emerging approaches—including selective omission of axillary surgery, targeted axillary dissection, and investigational strategies aiming at omission of breast surgery in exceptional responders—highlight a shift toward response-adapted and biology-driven care. While technological innovations such as robotic surgery and intraoperative radiotherapy may influence surgical practice, their role in true de-escalation remains limited or context-dependent. Overall, the field is moving toward minimizing surgical burden without compromising oncological safety, with future progress likely driven by improved patient selection, imaging, and integration of systemic therapy response. Full article

Biomechanics sits at the interface of engineering and medical sciences, offering essential insight into how tissues, organs, and biological systems respond to mechanical loading. This review brings together recent advances in musculoskeletal and cardiovascular biomechanics, illustrating how experimental techniques, computational modeling, and multiscale analysis are used to characterize load transfer, tissue deformation, fatigue, and injury mechanisms. In musculoskeletal applications, predictive simulations, wearable sensing technologies, and neuromechanical assessment tools support improved injury prevention, rehabilitation planning, and assistive device development. In the cardiovascular domain, patient-specific modeling, fluid–structure interaction analyses, and advanced imaging approaches clarify how hemodynamics, vessel wall mechanics, and device–tissue interactions influence disease progression, implant performance, and therapeutic outcomes. Emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, machine learning, digital twin frameworks, biofabrication, soft robotics, and self-powered sensing are enabling data-driven, real-time, and personalized interventions that connect mechanistic understanding with clinical practice. Despite these advances, challenges remain in accounting for individual variability, integrating multiscale data, and translating computational predictions into clinically validated solutions. By emphasizing interdisciplinary strategies that unite biomechanics, computational analytics, and innovative device engineering, this review outlines a pathway toward predictive, patient-centered healthcare and next-generation therapeutic and rehabilitation solutions. Full article

Stakeholders in the tourism system, recognizing the importance of digitalization and the adoption of modern technological solutions, are increasingly integrating artificial intelligence into their operations, including the use of autonomous robots. These initiatives should primarily aim to enhance the customer experience by simplifying and streamlining procedures, while allowing tourism employees to devote more attention to guests. Nautical tourism is a specific form of tourism in which the Republic of Croatia is a global leader; however, it also faces a shortage of qualified staff. Marinas, as the most significant stakeholders within the nautical tourism sector, are the first to invest in the development of innovative solutions. In addition to reviewing the theoretical framework, this paper emphasizes primary research. The aim of the research was to examine the attitudes and habits of nautical tourism guests regarding the adoption of new technologies in marinas, as well as their willingness to use autonomous robots. Given the decision to develop and implement autonomous robots in business operations, the research was conducted among users of nautical services in one of the most modern nautical tourism ports in Croatia and the Mediterranean. A structured online questionnaire was used. The results indicate users’ readiness for the immediate adoption of autonomous robots in certain services, providing a direct incentive for stronger implementation of similar solutions among other stakeholders. This research also suggests that Croatia has the potential to become a technological hub for smart nautical tourism. Full article

Parenchyma-sparing pancreatic surgery (PSPS) is a patient-centered alternative to traditional radical resections for benign and low-grade pancreatic lesions. Unlike pancreaticoduodenectomy and distal pancreatectomy, which tend to cause long-term exocrine and endocrine deficiency, PSPS aims to preserve functional tissue with a guarantee of oncologic safety. Techniques such as enucleation, central pancreatectomy, duodenum-preserving head resection, and uncinectomy are illustrative of this equipoise, with less risk of new-onset diabetes and malabsorption but more short-term morbidity in the form of postoperative pancreatic fistula. Advances in imaging technology, minimally invasive procedures, and robotics technology have extended PSPS indications beyond conventional candidates to thoughtfully selected neuroendocrine tumors, cystic neoplasms, and solid pseudopapillary neoplasms. Results are strongly dependent on patient selection, surgeon experience, and institutional volume, highlighting the importance of centralization and subspecialist training. While oncologic proficiency remains essential in aggressive tumors, evidence is in favor of PSPS being a curative and function-preserving option for properly screened patients with low-grade or benign conditions. Priorities for the future include multicenter prospective trials, optimization of perioperative techniques, and inclusion of patient-reported outcomes. PSPS represents a paradigm shift in pancreatic surgery, where technical innovation is balanced with quality of life in the long term and evolving principles of modern, individualized surgical practice. Full article

The dynamic and complex environment, together with challenging assignments, requires that unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems evolve toward cooperation, autonomy, and cognition. UAV swarms illustrate a revolutionary development in aerial robotics, which utilizes coordinated autonomy to improve operational efficiency. This study offers a detailed examination of UAV swarm systems, the latest developments, and their different applications. The main domains, such as intelligent path planning, work allocation, coordinated control, and safety issues, are analyzed, focusing on the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Deep Learning (DL) to enhance decision-making and agility. We address the constraints and potential advances in the field of swarm intelligence to facilitate additional research endeavors. The ongoing advancement of drone swarm technologies and its exploration of military uses highlight the increasing importance of anti-drone swarm strategies. Therefore, studying these strategies will have substantial practical importance in preventing and countering drone swarm combat. Thus, this article provides detailed drone swarm applications and the importance of anti-drone swarm techniques in strategic operations. Furthermore, this comprehensive study of the literature aims to offer innovative perspectives on the latest advances in UAV swarm intelligence technology. Future research trends and challenges are discussed to find the research gap. Full article

Across modern Asia and many other regions, artificial intelligence is transforming religious life in diverse and profound ways. Robot priests chant sutras at Japanese Buddhist temples, AI-powered apps offer personalised coaching in Quranic recitation to millions of Muslims, and bereaved families consult algorithm-generated avatars of the deceased in China. They are neither merely tools for instrumental use nor channels for transmitting pre-existing religious authority. Instead, they create new forms of religious content, new types of spiritual encounters for religious users, and new structures of authority. This paper argues that understanding these phenomena requires theoretical innovation beyond simply applying existing concepts to new domains. Drawing on Actor–Network Theory, algorithmic culture studies, and scholarship on Asian religious traditions, the paper proposes the theoretical framework of generative charisma, theorising how AI systems gain religious authority through three interconnected mechanisms: captivation by generation, intimacy trust through personalisation, and oscillating enchantment. It also highlights accountability as a structural issue that needs critical discussion regarding governance. The paper demonstrates the framework’s usefulness by examining AI recitation coaching in Islamic practice and AI grief avatars in Chinese Buddhist mourning, showing its relevance across different religious traditions and technological forms. Full article

Weeds represent a major constraint in the cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs), causing significant reductions in yield, biomass, and essential oil quality while increasing labor and production costs. Effective weed management is particularly critical during early crop growth, when young plants are most vulnerable to competition. Non-chemical strategies, including cultural practices, mechanical and thermal weeding, mulching, and crop diversification, have proven effective in suppressing weeds, enhancing crop competitiveness, and maintaining yield and quality, especially in organic or low-input systems. Mulching and optimized cultivation strategies consistently provide reliable weed control, improve soil moisture and nutrient use efficiency, and can influence secondary metabolite accumulation. Chemical weed control, including selective pre- and post-emergence herbicides, remains important in slow-growing MAPs but is increasingly constrained by regulatory restrictions and concerns over residues in raw plant material and essential oils. Integrated weed management combining cultural, physical, and reduced chemical approaches offers the most effective solution, balancing efficacy, crop safety, and product quality. Emerging strategies such as bioherbicides, precision agriculture, and robotic systems hold promise but require further research. Advancing weed management in MAPs will depend on interdisciplinary studies, field-scale validation, and technology-driven innovations to support sustainable, high-quality production. Full article

Memristors, as transformative electronic devices designed to transcend the von Neumann architecture, enable the physical unification of information storage and computation, thereby offering a foundational hardware pathway toward energy-efficient, brain-inspired computing. Their intrinsic analog resistive switching, non-volatility, and history-dependent learning capabilities allow them to natively implement in-memory computing and emulate synaptic plasticity, addressing the critical bottlenecks of energy and speed in conventional systems. Notably, the evolution from electrically controlled memristors to optoelectronic memristors marks a paradigm shift from pure computing to integrated sensing-processing, opening new dimensions for high-speed, parallel, and adaptive signal processing. In recent years, significant progress has been made in the development of memristor-based neuromorphic vision and tactile systems, on-chip signal processors, and dynamic trajectory trackers, demonstrating their potential in edge intelligence, adaptive robotics, and real-time perceptual tasks. This review systematically summarizes the latest advances in memristor technology, providing a comprehensive analysis of their operating mechanisms, material and structural innovations, and cutting-edge applications in neuromorphic perception and computing. Furthermore, it discusses the key challenges and future directions for the development and integration of memristor-based systems in the post-von Neumann era. Full article

Capsule endoscopy (CE) is evolving from a primarily small-bowel imaging modality into a broader diagnostic platform that increasingly incorporates artificial intelligence (AI), robotic technologies, biosensing capabilities, and decentralized models of care. The REFLECT symposium brought together an international, multidisciplinary audience of clinicians, engineers, scientists, and healthcare stakeholders to critically evaluate the present and future role of CE across a range of gastrointestinal (GI) applications, including inflammatory bowel disease, GI bleeding, coeliac disease, and colorectal cancer screening. Discussions explored the clinical impact of panenteric and colon capsule endoscopy, the potential of AI to enhance diagnostic performance and streamline workflows, innovations in capsule hardware, and the design of patient-centred diagnostic pathways. While conventional endoscopy continues to serve as the benchmark in many clinical scenarios, CE was recognized for its ability to improve access, acceptability, and scalability when deployed in appropriately selected populations. The symposium also identified key barriers to broader implementation, such as reinvestigation rates, absence of standardized quality indicators, limited real-world evidence for AI tools, and ongoing economic and environmental challenges. Overall, the meeting highlighted the importance of gradual, evidence-driven integration of CE, supported by robust validation, standardized metrics, close clinician-engineer collaboration, and meaningful incorporation of patient experience, to support the development of a safe, equitable, and sustainable pathway. Full article

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly changing the format, style and content of scientific publishing. Traditional reviews are likely to give way to more personalized, AI-generated literature surveys on the one hand and more innovative, perhaps even controversial hypothesis, opinion or essay-style contributions on the other. Original publications based on experimental data are still less affected even if AI teams up with robots. Eventually, science and scientific publishing are social activities and although the AI-driven tools and technologies at hand may accelerate and also refine scientific publishing, scientists, as always, are well equipped to adapt and to turn these challenges into new opportunities, for instance in handling, processing and illustrating experimental data. Full article