About this Research Topic

Background

The aim of this Research Topic is to address the new trends and emerging technologies in assistive robotics, to emphasize the common features that are applicable to a variety of assistive robotics.

Assistive robotics is most understood to be oriented toward healthcare and support for disabled people. In this Research Topic, the term “assistive robotics” is defined comprehensively as robots that coordinate their actions to provide their users with physical, cognitive and social assistance. Our aim is to consider a wide community of users, including users of all abilities and needs.

We welcome submissions surrounding the applications of emerging and advanced technologies in assistive robotics as well as the theory behind those applications. We encourage the submission of technically rigorous research papers, that present recent fundamental new technologies and methods across all areas of assistive robotics; in particular those that describe multidisciplinary studies that critically evaluate technologies in real-world settings. We welcome user-centric research resulting from collaboration between psychologists, neuroscientists, engineers, medical practitioners, computer scientists, roboticists and designers.

We are specifically interested in new trends in assistive robotics, especially in those systems that go beyond just robotics and consider the combination of other emerging technologies such as Augmented and Virtual Realities and Cyber-Physical systems with integrated social elements. Exploring the advances in these areas will allow us to better understand how emerging technologies can be used in assistive robotics to enhance rehabilitation, assistive living and personal care.

We also welcome contributions that tackle philosophical and ethical issues in the assistive robotics and related technologies, in particular on their effect on society and how they shape emerging complex human-robot relationships, as well as surveys and position papers that widen the boundaries of assistive robotics.

Submissions are encouraged, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Assistive Cyber-Physical Systems (ACPS)
 - In healthcare
 - Assisted living
 - Mathematical methods for analysis and design of ACPS, e.g. Lattice Computing, Formal Concept Analysis
• Virtual, Augmented and Cross realities for assistive robotics
 - Design for Assistive Environments
 - The Internet of Robotic Things Architectures for support in daily life
• Advanced Assistive Robotics Systems for rehabilitation
 - Social, pedagogical, psychosocial, cognitive and motor rehabilitation
 - Robotic assistance devices (e.g. powered exoskeletons), Social Sensors, Assistive Interfaces, e.g.
  EEG-Based Brain-Computer Interfaces, BCI-based Emotion Recognition, Speech and Haptic
  Interfaces, Multimodal User Interfaces
• Advances in computational methods for Assistive Robotics, e.g. Machine Learning methods to enable
 better Human-Robot Interactions
• Emerging technologies for social robots
• Social impact of assistive robotics
 - Uncanny Valley Effect in Socially Assistive Robotics: How human-like features can affect human-
  robot interactions?
 - Trust in Social Assistive Robots

Keywords: Assistive Cyber-Physical Systems, the Internet of Robotics Things Architectures, Assistive Interfaces, Socially Assistive (Intelligent) Robots, Theoretical and Computational methods for Assistive Robotics

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.

Frequently asked questions

• What is a Research Topic?

  Frontiers' Research Topics are collaborative hubs built around an emerging theme.Defined, managed, and led by renowned researchers, they bring communities together around a shared area of interest to stimulate collaboration and innovation.

  Unlike section journals, which serve established specialty communities, Research Topics are pioneer hubs, responding to the evolving scientific landscape and catering to new communities.

• Why does Frontiers publish Research Topics? 

  The goal of Frontiers' publishing program is to empower research communities to actively steer the course of scientific publishing. Our program was implemented as a three-part unit with fixed field journals, flexible specialty sections, and dynamically emerging Research Topics, connecting communities of different sizes and maturity.

  Research Topics originate from the scientific community. Many of our Research Topics are suggested by existing editorial board members who have identified critical challenges or areas of interest in their field.

• Why are Research Topics important for journals?

  As an editor, Research Topics will help you build your journal, as well as your community, around emerging, cutting-edge research. As research trailblazers, Research Topics attract high-quality submissions from leading experts all over the world.

  A thriving Research Topic can potentially evolve into a new specialty section if there is sustained interest and a growing community around it.

• How do we ensure the quality of articles within Research Topics?

  Each Research Topic must be approved by the specialty chief editor, and it falls under the editorial oversight of our editorial boards, supported by our in-house research integrity team. The same standards and rigorous peer review processes apply to articles published as part of a Research Topic as for any other article we publish.

  In 2023, 80% of the Research Topics we published were edited or co-edited by our editorial board members, who are already familiar with their journal's scope, ethos, and publishing model. All other topics are guest edited by leaders in their field, each vetted and formally approved by the specialty chief editor.

• What are the benefits of publishing my article in a Research Topic?

  Publishing your article within a Research Topic with other related articles increases its discoverability and visibility, which can lead to more views, downloads, and citations. Research Topics grow dynamically as more published articles are added, causing frequent revisiting, and further visibility.

  As Research Topics are multidisciplinary, they are cross-listed in several fields and section journals – increasing your reach even more and giving you the chance to expand your network and collaborate with researchers in different fields, all focusing on expanding knowledge around the same important topic.

  Our larger Research Topics are also converted into ebooks and receive social media promotion from our digital marketing team.

   
• What types of articles can be published in a Research Topic?

  Frontiers offers multiple article types, but it will depend on the field and section journals in which the Research Topic will be featured. The available article types for a Research Topic will appear in the drop-down menu during the submission process.

  Check available article types here 

• Can I suggest a new Research Topic? 

  Yes, we would love to hear your ideas for a topic. Most of our Research Topics are community-led and suggested by researchers in the field. Our in-house editorial team will contact you to talk about your idea and whether you’d like to edit the topic. If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. 

  Suggest your topic here 

• Who leads a Research Topic? 

  A team of guest editors (called topic editors) lead their Research Topic. This editorial team oversees the entire process, from the initial topic proposal to calls for participation, the peer review, and final publications.

  The team may also include topic coordinators, who help the topic editors send calls for participation, liaise with topic editors on abstracts, and support contributing authors. In some cases, they can also be assigned as reviewers.

• What is the role of a topic editor?

  As a topic editor (TE), you will take the lead on all editorial decisions for the Research Topic, starting with defining its scope. This allows you to curate research around a topic that interests you, bring together different perspectives from leading researchers across different fields and shape the future of your field. 

   

  You will choose your team of co-editors, curate a list of potential authors, send calls for participation and oversee the peer review process, accepting or recommending rejection for each manuscript submitted.

• What support will I receive when editing a new Research Topic? 

  As a topic editor, you're supported at every stage by our in-house team. You will be assigned a single point of contact to help you on both editorial and technical matters. Your topic is managed through our user-friendly online platform, and the peer review process is supported by our industry-first AI review assistant (AIRA).

• As a junior researcher, can I be involved in editing a Research Topic? 

  If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. This provides you with valuable editorial experience, improving your ability to critically evaluate research articles and enhancing your understanding of the quality standards and requirements for scientific publishing, as well as the opportunity to discover new research in your field, and expand your professional network.

• Can I get a certificate for editing a Research Topic?

  Yes, certificates can be issued on request. We are happy to provide a certificate for your contribution to editing a successful Research Topic.

• Who will I collaborate with?

  Research Topics thrive on collaboration and their multi-disciplinary approach around emerging, cutting-edge themes, attract leading researchers from all over the world.

• How long does it take to publish a Research Topic?

  As a topic editor, you can set the timeline for your Research Topic, and we will work with you at your pace. Typically, Research Topics are online and open for submissions within a few weeks and remain open for participation for 6 – 12 months. Individual articles within a Research Topic are published as soon as they are ready.

  Find out more about our Research Topics

• What fee support is available to authors publishing in a Research Topic?

  Our fee support program ensures that all articles that pass peer review, including those published in Research Topics, can benefit from open access – regardless of the author's field or funding situation.

  Authors and institutions with insufficient funding can apply for a discount on their publishing fees. A fee support application form is available on our website.

• Will there be a printed version of my Research Topic?

  In line with our mission to promote healthy lives on a healthy planet, we do not provide printed materials. All our articles and ebooks are available under a CC-BY license, so you can share and print copies.