Sensing Applications in Robotics

The presence of robots in a variety of scenarios has increased substantially in recent years, as their ability to solve diverse tasks has improved. Currently, a broad range of research lines continue to be very active in the field of robotics, with the common goal of increasing their safety, autonomy, and adaptability to unexpected circumstances. Additionally, improving collaborative mechanisms between robot and user constitutes an important line in this field. In all cases, sensing technologies play a crucial role in capturing the necessary information from the environment, robot, and/or user. 

To address any specific task, the robot has to be equipped with different kinds of sensors to perceive the surroundings, such as touch sensors, laser rangefinders, GPS, visual sensors or combined vision-depth platforms. In some applications, a combination of these is used, and data-fusion algorithms must be implemented. Currently, machine learning and deep learning approaches may play an important role in data analysis, interpretation, and fusion. Additionally, some specific tasks can be performed more efficiently if a team of robots is used, so an optimal combination of the information captured between the different sensors is crucial. In this sense, IoT (Internet of Things) approaches may ease this labor. Finally, in some cases, the robots must operate in social environments, and it is necessary to implement interfaces that permit an easy and intuitive interaction between data captured by the sensors (either pre- or post-processed) and the users. 

The aim of this Special Issue is to present current applications of sensing technologies in robotics. In this way, this Special Issue invites contributions to the following topics (but is not limited to them):

• Sensing technologies in mobile robots;
• Sensing technologies in industrial robots;
• Design of new sensors for robots;
• Processing and interpretation of sensory data;
• Machine learning and deep learning for data treatment in robotics;
• Sensing technologies in multirobot systems;
• Interfaces for robot/user interaction;
• Sensing technologies in collaborative robot/user applications;
• Applications of sensing technologies in robotics.

Prof. Dr. Luis Payá
Prof. Dr. Oscar Reinoso García
Guest Editors

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• Vision sensors 
• Range sensors 
• Touch sensors 
• Sensor networks 
• Intelligent sensors