Social Robotics is the study of robots that are able to interact and communicate among themselves, with humans, and with the environment, within the social and cultural structure attached to its role. The journal covers a broad spectrum of topics related to the latest technologies, new research results and developments in the area of social robotics on all levels, from developments in core enabling technologies to system integration, aesthetic design, applications and social implications. It provides a platform for like-minded researchers to present their findings and latest developments in social robotics, covering relevant advances in engineering, computing, arts and social sciences.
The journal publishes original, peer reviewed articles and contributions on innovative ideas and concepts, new discoveries and improvements, as well as novel applications, by leading researchers and developers regarding the latest fundamental advances in the core technologies that form the backbone of social robotics, distinguished developmental projects in the area, as well as seminal works in aesthetic design, ethics and philosophy, studies on social impact and influence, pertaining to social robotics.
The journal aims to provide an overview of the current state of the social robotics scene, how the field and related technologies are set to evolve in the future, and their impact on society at large. It also provides researchers in diverse fields - from engineering, to the social sciences - and developers in the area a consolidated volume which details the latest developments and act as an international forum for all issues within the editorial focus. Topics of interest for the scientific papers and letters include but are not limited to:
· Affective and cognitive sciences for socially interactive robots
· Human-robot interaction and robot-robot interaction
· Compliance, safety and compatibility in the design of social robots ''living'' with humans
· Learning, adaptation and evolution of intelligence
· Roboethics in human society
· Social acceptance and impact of robots in the society
· Design philosophies and socially appealing design methodologies
· Socially assistive robotics
· Biomechatronics, neuro-robotics, and biomedical robotics
· Context awareness, expectation and intention understanding
· Human factors and ergonomics in human-robot interactions
· Interaction and collaboration between robots, humans and environments
· Intelligent control and artificial intelligence for social robotics
· Interactive robotic arts
· Knowledge representation, information acquisition, and decision making
· Models of human and animal social behavior as applied to robots
· Multimodal sensor fusion and communication
· Edutainment robotics
· Robotics applications in healthcare and aged care
· Perception and modeling of humans and their behavior
· Socially-aware robot navigation, task and motion planning