Abstract
Service robots have attracted attention for more than a couple of decades, but have only recently become widely accepted in experienced markets, at least in some sectors. Thus, an increased interest for developing new service robots and applying robotic systems for new service tasks has emerged. Innovation is expected not only in terms of successful tasks, but even in developing robotic systems for tasks in other new areas.
Service robotics is challenging, both in terms of system developments and task applications, having human-robot interaction in mind. The multidisciplinary capability is a key factor that requires more and more integration of expertise and the involvement of new areas.
Thus, a renewed interest in service robots within IJARS is aimed at enlarging the forum of presentations and discussions of experiences and designs for systems and applications. Therefore, this journal special issue has been planned with contributions from Associate Editors in emerging hot areas and with the aim of stimulating readers to submit their contributions with their experiences and perspectives in any topic of service robotics. The selected contributions deal with different aspects, both in terms of designs and applications, that are not usually considered by roboticists. Furthermore, the readers might appreciate these features of the papers as an inspiration for presenting their new solutions and applications in future journal submissions.
I would like to thank the Associate Editors and publisher for preparing this journal special issue and for increasing the visibility of activities in service robotics in this journal.