Announcements

We are pleased to announce that the 1st International Online Conference on Sensor and Actuator Networks (CSAN 2026) will be held online from 9 to 10 July 2026. The conference is organized by MDPI’s Journal of Sensor and Actuator Networks (JSAN, ISSN: 2224-2708, Impact Factor: 3.3).

CSAN 2026 will present the latest studies in sensor and actuator network-related research in the fields of healthcare, smart agriculture, industry, mobile systems, intelligent transportation, manufacturing, smart cities, and engineering.

We welcome all past authors to speak at CSAN2026. All invited speakers will get the award.

Conference Chair:

• Prof. Dr. Lei Shu, ¹ Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China; ² University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK.

Session topics:
S1. Industry 4.0 and embedded wireless sensor/actuator systems;

• Session Chair: Prof. Adnan M. Abu-Mahfouz, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa.

S2. Blockchain technologies and Internet-of-Things-based WSAN;

• Session Chair: Prof. Pascal Lorenz, University of Haute-Alsace, France.

S3. WSAN and next-generation networks (5G, 6G, etc.);

• Session Chair: Prof. Jordi Mongay Batalla, Warsaw University of Technology, Poland.

S4. Applications of WSAN in agriculture, vehicles, wearable sensors, smart cities, manufacturing, mobile systems, and health and medical care;

• Session Chair: Prof. Sye-Loong Keoh, University of Glasgow, UK.

S5. Big data, computing and artificial intelligence.

• Session Chair: Prof. Jianwei Niu, Bei hang University, China.

Conference awards:

• The Best Oral Presentation Award is given to the invited speakers; we appreciate your contribution and time at CSAN2026;
• The Best Video Presentation Award is given to the submission judged to make the most significant and interesting video presentation for the conference.

Guide for Authors:
Abstracts written for CSAN 2026 will be directly submitted to the Topic “The 1st International Online Conference on Sensor and Actuator Networks (CSAN 2026)” within the “Special Issue” section of JSAN with a 15% discount on the publication fee.

Submit your abstract before 9 March 2026!

Register before 6 July 2026!

Register for Early Bird by 6 June 2026. The registration fee includes attendance costs for all conference sessions.

For detailed information, please visit https://sciforum.net/event/CSAN2026.

For any enquiries regarding the event, please contact csan2026@mdpi.com.

We look forward to seeing you at CSAN 2026.

MDPI is delighted to announce the establishment of the Michele Parrinello Award. Named in honor of Professor Michele Parrinello, the award celebrates his exceptional contributions and his profound impact on the field of computational physical science research.

The award will be presented biennially to distinguished scientists who have made outstanding achievements and contributions in the field of computational physical science—spanning physics, chemistry, and materials science.

About Professor Michele Parrinello

"Do not be afraid of new things. I see it many times when we discuss a new thing that young people are scared to go against the mainstream a little bit, thinking what is going to happen to me and so on. Be confident that what you do is meaningful, and do not be afraid, do not listen too much to what other people have to say.”

——Professor Michele Parrinello

Born in Messina in 1945, he received his degree from the University of Bologna and is currently affiliated with the Italian Institute of Technology. Professor Parrinello is known for his many technical innovations in the field of atomistic simulations and for a wealth of interdisciplinary applications ranging from materials science to chemistry and biology. Together with Roberto Car, he introduced ab initio molecular dynamics, also known as the Car–Parrinello method, marking the beginning of a new era both in the area of electronic structure calculations and in molecular dynamics simulations. He is also known for the Parrinello–Rahman method, which allows crystalline phase transitions to be studied by molecular dynamics. More recently, he has introduced metadynamics for the study of rare events and the calculation of free energies.

For his work, he has been awarded many prizes and honorary degrees. He is a member of numerous academies and learned societies, including the German Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften, the British Royal Society, and the Italian Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, which is the major academy in his home country of Italy.

Award Committee

The award committee will be chaired by Professor Xin-Gao Gong, a computational condensed matter physicist, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and professor at the Department of Physics, Fudan University. Professor Xin-Gao Gong will lead a panel of several senior experts in the field to oversee the evaluation and selection process. The Institute for Computational Physical Sciences at Fudan University (Shanghai, China), led by Professor Xin-Gao Gong, will serve as the supporting institute for the award.

"We hope the Michele Parrinello Award will recognize scientists who have made significant contributions to the field of computational condensed matter physics and at the same time set a benchmark for the younger generation, providing clear direction for their pursuit—this is precisely the original intention behind establishing the award."

——Professor Xin-Gao Gong

The first edition of the award was officially launched on 1 November 2025. Nominations will be accepted before the end of March 2026. For further details, please visit mparrinelloaward.org.

About the MDPI Sustainability Foundation and MDPI Awards

The Michele Parrinello Award is part of the MDPI Sustainability Foundation, which is dedicated to advancing sustainable development through scientific progress and global collaboration. The foundation also oversees the World Sustainability Award, the Emerging Sustainability Leader Award, and the Tu Youyou Award. The establishment of the Michele Parrinello Award will further enrich the existing award portfolio, providing continued and diversified financial support to outstanding professionals across various fields. 

In addition to these foundation-level awards, MDPI journals also recognize outstanding contributions through a range of honors, including Best Paper Awards, Outstanding Reviewer Awards, Young Investigator Awards, Travel Awards, Best PhD Thesis Awards, Editor of Distinction Awards, and others. These initiatives aim to recognize excellence across disciplines and career stages, contributing to the long-term vitality and sustainability of scientific research.

Find more information on awards here.

Following from our two previous successful editions, we invite you to submit your abstracts and participate in the 3rd International Conference on AI Sensors and Transducers, taking place from 2 to 7 August 2026 in Jeju, South Korea.

Organized by MDPI and the open access journals Sensors, Micromachines, AI Sensors, Micro and Remote Sensing, this in-person conference will once again bring together experts and participating researchers who will share insights and innovations in sensors, sensing technology, transducers and artificial intelligence.

Start preparing your abstracts:
Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your work to peers and leading experts in AI-enhanced sensing systems and transducers. We will be announcing the session topics at AIS 2026 soon.

Find out more about the instructions for authors: https://sciforum.net/event/AIS2026?section=#instructions.

Find out more about the publication opportunities available for authors: https://sciforum.net/event/AIS2026?section=#Publicationopportunities.
Please feel free to share the information about this conference to your colleagues and students.

We look forward to welcoming you in Jeju!

The organizing committee of the 3rd International Conference on AI Sensors and Transducers (AIS 2026).

We are delighted to present a list of Issue Cover Articles selected for display in volume 14 of Journal of Sensor and Actuator Networks (JSAN, ISSN: 2224-2708). These articles cover a wide range of topics, including body sensor networks, multi-processor reporter-verifiers, metal oxide semiconductor application, JPEG image encryption, 3D wireless sensor networks, and industrial safety monitoring. We hope you will find something of interest among these exceptional publications.

	1. “An Efficient Communication Protocol for Real-Time Body Sensor Data Acquisition and Feedback in Interactive Wearable Systems” by Armands Ancans, Modris Greitans and Sandis Kagis J. Sens. Actuator Netw. 2025, 14(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/jsan14010004 Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2224-2708/14/1/4 Cover Story: While wireless solutions usually dominate body sensor networks, wired methods excel where dense sensor/actuator deployments, low latency, and high reliability are needed. Despite decades of wired communication advancements, wearable applications have lagged behind, burdened by complex wiring and communication overhead. We address this gap by introducing a novel serial protocol with group addressing that cuts overhead by up to 50%, as well as demonstrating its use in an interactive jacket prototype over a semiduplex UART. Using only a three-wire bus for power and communication, the jacket supports nine sensors/actuators, achieving a 2.27 ms feedback delay and a 435.4 Hz frame rate, matching top-performing multi-node wearables while maintaining flexible, efficient wiring.
	2. “A Zero-Trust Multi-Processor Reporter-Verifier Design of Edge Devices for Firmware Authenticity in Internet of Things and Blockchain Applications” by Ananda Maiti and Alexander A. Kist J. Sens. Actuator Netw. 2025, 14(2), 35; https://doi.org/10.3390/jsan14020035 Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2224-2708/14/2/35 Cover Story: This paper proposes a secure IoT device design that combats internal threats by verifying firmware authenticity to ensure accurate data reporting. Unlike traditional IoT–blockchain devices, it uses a multiprocessor architecture in which one processor periodically extracts and checks firmware against expected signatures. This ensures that only trusted firmware runs on devices monitoring critical data. This approach has minimal impact on code size, power, or performance, offering a hardware-based alternative to lightweight blockchain for enhancing security in the era of edge AI-enabled IoT applications.
	3. “A Review: Applications of MOX Sensors from Air Quality Monitoring to Biomedical Diagnosis and Agro-Food Quality Control” by Elisabetta Poeta, Estefanía Núñez-Carmona and Veronica Sberveglieri J. Sens. Actuator Netw. 2025, 14(3), 50; https://doi.org/10.3390/jsan14030050 Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2224-2708/14/3/50 Cover Story: Metal oxide (MOX) sensors are gaining increasing attention across multiple fields due to their high sensitivity, low cost, and suitability for miniaturization. This review examines the evolution of MOX technology and its growing use in diverse sectors such as air quality monitoring, biomedical diagnostics, and food quality control. By presenting recent developments and emerging trends, the article offers a comprehensive perspective on how MOX sensors are shaping the future of environmental and health-related sensing applications.
	4. “An Improved Chosen Plaintext Attack on JPEG Encryption” by Junhui He, Kaitian Gu, Yihan Huang, Yue Li and Xiang Chen J. Sens. Actuator Netw. 2025, 14(4), 72; https://doi.org/10.3390/jsan14040072 Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2224-2708/14/4/72 Cover Story: Images often contain sensitive content such as personal data, medical records, confidential documents, or military intelligence. Unauthorized access can lead to severe consequences. Encryption is an effective approach to safeguarding image security and privacy. Recently, a JPEG image encryption method using an adaptive encryption key was presented by He et al. However, He’s scheme has shown to be vulnerable to chosen plaintext attack. This study first demonstrates that the adaptive key generation in He’s scheme introduces exploitable security risks and then proposes an improved chosen plaintext attack scheme by replacing the single-permutation approach with an additive value method, which can significantly improve the attack success rates. The proposed method also provides insights for developing more robust image cryptographic schemes.
	5. “A Survey of Three-Dimensional Wireless Sensor Networks Deployment Techniques” by Tingting Cao, Fan Yang, Chensiyu Fan, Ru Han, Xing Yang and Lei Shu J. Sens. Actuator Netw. 2025, 14(5), 94; https://doi.org/10.3390/jsan14050094 Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2224-2708/14/5/94 Cover Story: Three-dimensional wireless sensor networks (3D WSNs) are transforming environmental monitoring, smart agriculture, and urban management by enabling sensing in complex spatial domains. However, deploying nodes in 3D environments introduces challenges in coverage, connectivity, and map construction. This paper provides a structured survey of node deployment strategies, analyzing six algorithmic categories, ranging from classical geometric methods to swarm intelligence and approximation algorithms. It highlights key design considerations, compares algorithmic performances, and presents a case study on solar insecticidal lamp deployment, bridging theoretical models with practical 3D applications.
	6. “Improving Accuracy in Industrial Safety Monitoring: Combine UWB Localization and AI-Based Image Analysis” by Francesco Di Rienzo, Giustino Claudio Miglionico, Pietro Ducange, Francesco Marcelloni, Nicolò Salti and Carlo Vallati J. Sens. Actuator Netw. 2025, 14(6), 118; https://doi.org/10.3390/jsan14060118 Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2224-2708/14/6/118 Cover Story: Industry 4.0 advanced technologies are increasingly used to monitor workers and reduce accident risks. This paper presents an on-premise, rule-based safety management system that fuses data from an ultra-wideband (UWB) locating system and AI-based video analytics to enforce context-aware safety policies. The proposed system integrates UWB-based RTLS with AI-based PPE detection through a rule-based aggregation engine, enabling policies that neither technology can enforce alone. Data fusion expands the range of enforceable safety rules and enhances system resilience. A proof of concept validates the approach, demonstrating video processing on edge devices and accurate worker tracking. Extended validation confirms reliability under challenging conditions.

This Academic Publishing Workshop will be led by MDPI Regional Journal Relations Specialist, Dr. Sally Wu, on “Author Training”. Participants will receive practical advice on essential aspects of writing academic articles. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of the academic publishing landscape and how to successfully contribute to it.

Date: 25 February 2026
Time: 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. EST

Schedule:

Speakers:

MDPI has surpassed the milestone of 1,000 partners within the Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP). The agreements span 59 countries, covering North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania.

Last year alone, more than 150 new libraries and academic institutions joined MDPI’s IOAP. With the expansion of an existing consortium deal in Sweden we welcomed a further 75 partners to the program in January 2026, enabling us to surpass the 1,000-partners milestone.

The IOAP supports affiliated researchers by streamlining submission processes, reducing administrative burdens, and offering discounted Article Processing Charges (APCs). Through IOAP membership, more than 61,300 research articles received APC discounts in 2025, driving greater visibility and accessibility for partner institutions and global research communities alike.

"This milestone marks a significant step towards expanding MDPI’s global impact," said Stefan Tochev, MDPI's CEO. "Reaching 1,000 IOAP partnerships is a true testament to the growing trust and collaboration we’ve built with universities, libraries, and research organizations worldwide. We are proud to lead the way in Open Access publishing, ensuring researchers have the support they need to reach global audiences." "The success of our program is reflected in the growing global demand for Open Science and quality publishing services," said Becky Castellon, MDPI institutional partnerships manager. "Equally, institutions are increasingly seeking Open Access publishing options that support funder and national mandates. Joining the IOAP makes compliance simple."

We are delighted to present the winner of the Journal of Sensor and Actuator Networks (JSAN) Travel Award—Mr. Amir Rad. We hope you enjoy the interview.

1. Could you please briefly introduce yourself to our readers? Could you share your current research focus and the latest developments in your work?
My research focuses on developing quantum-based sensors to detect extremely weak electromagnetic fields generated by cardiac activity. For more than a century, electrocardiography has been the standard method for recording the heart’s electrical signals. While effective, ECG measurements are constrained by electrode placement, susceptibility to motion artifacts, and their reliance on surface-level, time-limited recordings.
Quantum sensors offer a fundamentally new approach to cardiac sensing. By exploiting quantum phenomena, these devices can be precisely tuned to target specific signals while exhibiting reduced sensitivity to environmental noise. My objective is to advance this technology to a level where high-fidelity, continuous measurements of cardiac activity are achievable, enabling the investigation of subtle magnetic field features associated with each heartbeat that are inaccessible with conventional techniques.

2. Could you provide a brief overview of the main content of your award-winning paper?
The award-winning work was mainly based on my master’s project, which involved developing a near-infrared spectroscopy sensor. This sensor was designed to monitor tissue health after reconstructive surgery in the head and neck region.
In such procedures, tissue is transplanted from one part of the body to reconstruct areas affected by tumor removal. Blood vessels are surgically connected through a process called anastomosis. The sensor helps monitor tissue viability after surgery by tracking hemodynamic changes within the first 72 hours, which is the most critical period for ensuring the transplanted tissue remains healthy. The system provides clinicians with quantitative information that helps assess tissue condition during recovery.

3. How does it feel to receive the Travel Award? What does this recognition mean to you?
Receiving the award is a great feeling. It is very rewarding when your work, effort, and time are recognized and highlighted. It creates a sense of progress, showing that the work you do goes beyond earning a degree and can have a broader impact on society. I hope all researchers experience such recognition at some point, as it reinforces the value of the journey and the contribution to the scientific community.

4. In your opinion, which research topics do you think will be the most popular in the field of sensor and actuator networks in the coming years?
I believe quantum sensors will become a major focus in the coming decade. Classical sensors have reached a maturity stage where improvements are mostly incremental. Quantum sensors, however, offer new possibilities.
They can be tailored for specific applications, require less frequent recalibration, operate for longer durations, and are less susceptible to environmental artifacts. These advantages make them promising candidates for future sensing technologies.

5. What advice and insights would you share with young scholars, particularly when it comes to selecting research topics and maintaining persistence?
In today’s fast-paced environment, people often look for shortcuts and try to speed through processes. My advice is to slow down and enjoy the research journey. Try to absorb as much knowledge as possible and use all available resources and opportunities.
At times, individual tasks may not seem connected, but when you step back and look at the bigger picture, you realize how each step contributes to progress. Like connecting dots, the full picture only becomes clear over time. Persistence and patience are essential in research.

6. What are your views and expectations regarding the open access model of publishing?
I strongly support open access publishing. Much research funding comes from public taxpayers, and it is only fair that research outcomes remain accessible to the public without requiring additional payment to access results.
Open access ensures that research findings can benefit society directly, allowing knowledge funded by the public to return to the public. For these reasons, I strongly support this publishing model.

7. JSAN will hold its first electronic conference in July this year. Are you interested in presenting and introducing your research findings as a speaker at the conference?
Yes, definitely. I would be happy to participate. I have found the JSAN community very active in networking and collaboration, and I look forward to presenting my work and connecting with other researchers.

8. As the recipient of this award, could you share your feelings about whom you would like to thank?
I am very proud to receive this award, not only because of the recognition itself but also because it provided the opportunity to participate in the SPIE conference, where I presented my work and received valuable peer-reviewed feedback from leading researchers in the field.
I would like to thank the JSAN team and committee members for granting me this opportunity. I am also deeply grateful to my supervisor, who encouraged me to apply and supported me throughout the process. Their support played an important role in achieving this milestone.

To further enhance the quality of the Journal of Sensor and Actuator Networks (JSAN, ISSN: 2224-2708) and the articles published within it, the journal has updated and revised its scope. This refinement has been guided by the insightful recommendations of our esteemed Editorial Board Members and implemented with the invaluable support of our Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Dr. Lei Shu.

Our aim is to sharpen the journal’s focus to better reflect the evolving landscape of sensor and actuator network research. While JSAN has long served as a cornerstone for pioneering work in network architectures, protocols, security, and fundamental theory, we now seek to place stronger emphasis on the transformative real‑world impact of this technology.

The future of sensor and actuator networks lies in their powerful convergence with other scientific and engineering disciplines. Accordingly, our updated scope will actively highlight and encourage submissions that demonstrate deep interdisciplinary integration.

The original scope and the updated version are listed below:

For more information, please visit the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/jsan/about.

JSAN Editorial Office

MDPI will be attending the International Workshop on Antenna Technology 2026 (iWAT 2026) in Liverpool, UK, which will take place from 25 to 27 March 2026. The IEEE International Workshop on Antenna Technology (iWAT) is an annual forum for the exchange of information on the research and development in innovative antenna technologies. It especially focuses on small antennas and applications of advanced and artificial materials to antenna design. At iWAT, all the oral presentations are delivered by invited prominent researchers and professors. iWAT has a particular focus on posters, through which authors have the opportunity to interact with leading researchers in their fields.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Electronics;
• Sensors;
• Telecom;
• Applied Sciences;
• Drones;
• Eng;
• Inventions;
• Journal of Sensor and Actuator Networks;
• Logistics;
• Microwave;
• Signals;
• Technologies.

If you are attending the conference, please feel free to visit our booth. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following link: https://attend.ieee.org/iwat-2026.