Aims and scope

The goal of Autonomous Robots is to report on the theory and applications of the computational aspects of robotic systems capable of some degree of self-sufficiency. Thus, the journal is aimed at the advances in robotics toward adaptation, autonomy, interaction, intelligence, manipulation, and mobility in an unstructured world. The term `robot' implies that the systems described here are capable of performing purposeful behaviors in the real world. They obtain inputs from the world through sensors and act upon the world through actuators. The connection between sensor data and actuation may result from advanced sensor data interpretation or it may involve complex decision making, goal interpretation and other aspects of reasoning. Most autonomous systems substantially change the environment they perceive, whether it be through navigation, manipulation or a combination of both.

Publication preference will be given to papers which include performance data on physical robots in the real world. In order to be considered for publication, papers which include only mathematical or simulation results must describe in sufficient detail a path for the transition from theory or simulation to the real world.

Papers published in these pages will report on original research in such areas as:

Computational architectures for autonomous systems
Human-robot interaction
Learning and adaptation in robots
Manipulation and locomotion
Multi-robot systems
Planning and navigation
Studies of autonomous robot systems
Sensing and perception
Self-calibration and self-repair for robots