AI-Driven Enhancements for Mobile Robots in Extreme Environments

The field of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technology applied to mobile robot systems in extreme environments is rapidly evolving due to the urgent need for exploration, transportation, inspection, and military applications in such challenging conditions. Current problems include the high temperature, pressure, humidity, and radiation that mobile robots must endure in environments like nuclear power plants, the wild, the deep sea, and space. Recent studies have shown promising results in using AI for robot structure optimization, motion control, compliant interaction, optimal trajectory planning, and decision-making. However, there remain significant gaps in achieving reliable, adaptable, autonomous, and maneuverable robots capable of performing efficiently under these extreme conditions. Addressing these gaps requires a multidisciplinary approach that integrates advanced materials, reliability analysis, high mobility, accurate motion control, enhanced sensing capabilities, intelligent decision-making, energy management, and safe motion planning.

This Research Topic aims to explore and discuss the application of the latest AI technologies to mobile robots operating in extreme environments. The primary objectives include enhancing the reliability, adaptability, autonomy, and maneuverability of these robots. Specific questions to be addressed include how to improve decision-making under uncertainty, optimize trajectory planning and collision avoidance, ensure robust state estimation and filtering, and develop energy-efficient designs for longevity in harsh conditions. Hypotheses to be tested may involve the effectiveness of AI-based motion control technologies and the impact of advanced materials on robot performance in extreme environments.

To gather further insights into the application of AI in mobile robots for extreme environments, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Advanced decision and embodied AI technologies under uncertainty
- AI-based fast trajectory planning and collision avoidance for mobile robots
- Robust state estimation and filtering for mobile robots
- System reliability analysis
- Learning-based motion control technologies in extreme environments
- Human-robot interaction in extreme environments
- Advanced materials for extreme conditions
- Energy-efficient design for longevity in harsh environments
- Enhanced sensing capabilities for extreme environments
- Safety protocols and risk management
- Other related issues

Keywords: Intelligent mobile robot, extreme environment, optimal design, intelligent control, fast trajectory planning, collision avoidance

Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.