Recent Advances in Robotics and Automation Systems

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, the use of robotics and automation systems has become increasingly prevalent. These systems are capable of performing a wide range of tasks, such as planting, harvesting, and even monitoring the health of crops. One of the key advantages of these systems is that they can operate autonomously, thus allowing for farmers and growers to focus on other important tasks. Furthermore, these systems can be more accurate and precise than their human counterparts, which can lead to significant improvements in crop yields and overall efficiency. Despite the benefits of these systems, there are still many challenges to be overcome. For example, many of these systems are expensive and require a high level of technical expertise to operate.

The aim of this Special Issue is to bring together researchers and practitioners from across the agricultural robotics and automation community to discuss these challenges and explore potential solutions. We encourage submissions on a wide range of topics, including, but not limited to: advanced sensing and mapping technologies, autonomous navigation and path planning, intelligent control systems, data fusion and machine learning, and human–robot collaboration.

In addition to original research articles, we also welcome review papers and case studies that highlight the current state-of-the-art in agricultural robotics and automation. These contributions can help to identify the best practices and highlight areas where further research is needed.

We invite original research articles, review papers, and case studies on the following (but not limited to) topics:

• Robotics in agriculture: advancements, applications, and future prospects;
• Precision sprayers: design, testing, and optimization for efficient pesticide and herbicide applications;
• Precision spreaders: innovations and improvements in fertilizer and seed application;
• Agricultural robots: uses and benefits for crop management, harvesting, and transportation;
• Swarm robotics: potential applications and challenges in precision agriculture;
• Sensing technologies for precision agriculture: advances in sensors, data analysis, and decision-making;
• Automation and control systems for precision machinery: design, implementation, and performance evaluation;
• Human–robot interaction in agriculture: challenges and opportunities for improving productivity and safety;
• Precision machinery for sustainable agriculture: environmental impacts, resource management, and social.

Dr. El Houssein Chouaib Harik
Prof. Dr. Frédéric Guinand
Dr. Krzysztof Kusnierek
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• autonomous navigation and path planning
• swarm robotics
• intelligent control systems
• data fusion
• machine learning
• human–robot collaboration