Brain-Computer Interfaces for Robotic Applications in Extended Reality

Dear Colleagues,

Recent years have seen significant advancements in brain-computer interface (BCI) technology within the fields of robotics and artificial intelligence. This innovation establishes a direct link between the human brain and robotic systems, enabling control and interaction. Comprising both software and hardware components, BCI systems hold immense potential to revolutionize various industries, from healthcare and rehabilitation to automation and assistive technologies. Through the decoding of brain signals, BCI techniques translate neural activity into actionable commands for robotic systems. Modalities like electroencephalography (EEG), functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), electromyography (EMG), and hybrid setups are pivotal in capturing user intentions, facilitating the real-time control of robotic devices. The accuracy and speed of brain signal decoding are pivotal factors which influence the responsiveness and efficacy of brain-controlled robotics.

Extended reality (XR) technologies encompass three different alternative realities (virtual, augmented and mixed realities), which are increasingly showing their potential within the robotic domain. The fusion of XR and BCI systems has the potential to revolutionize the HRI domain. BCI technology in XR environments enables novel avenues for understanding and enhancing HRI, ranging from emotion and intention classification to novel approaches of controlling robotic systems. Real-time feedback visualization further empowers users to refine control strategies, driving transformative advancements in HRI.

Robotic rehabilitation and industrial tasks are among the critical areas which benefit from this integration. XR environments, coupled with BCI, offer personalized rehabilitation experiences and intuitive control mechanisms, promising improved outcomes and efficiency. Additionally, collaborative scenarios in industrial settings are being reshaped by immersive setups, thus leading to optimized workflows and increased productivity.

This Special Issue aims to showcase the latest research and innovations in this rapidly evolving field, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and shaping the future of human-robot partnerships.

Topics of interest include the following:

• User studies of HRI and BCI
• Human comfort and trust in HRI
• Awareness monitoring and emotion recognition in HRI
• BCI interfaces supporting robotic rehabilitation or telerehabilitation
• Extended Reality environments for testing HRI- and BCI-based systems
• Benefits of BCI in industrial robotic tasks
• BCI interfaces fostering human-robot collaboration
• Extended reality applications to foster human-robot understanding
• Multimodal interfaces in human-robot applications

Dr. Francesco De Pace
Dr. Federico Manuri
Guest Editors

Matteo Bosco
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Robotics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 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.

• brain-computer interface
• human-robot interaction
• human-robot collaboration
• extended reality