Special Issue on Space Robotics

If you are a Space Robotics researcher then please take a look at the following call which has just gone live.

Call for Papers

Guest Editors: Chris Skonieczny (Concordia University), Daniel Szafir (University of Colorado) and Mark Woods (SCISYS).

The Journal of Field Robotics (JFR) announces its sixth special issue on space robotics to examine topics related to robots and space. This biannual special issue will present and discuss the state of the art in space robots. 

Space applications present many challenges to robotic systems: from extremes of temperature, vacuum, shock and gravity, to limitations on power and communication, to requirements for reliability, robustness and autonomy.

We invite papers that exhibit theory and methods applied to robotic systems in space including:

• specification and evaluation of system concepts and designs;
• effects of the space environment on robotic devices;
• methods of relevant sensing, actuation, and mobility;
• applications in manipulation, assembly, construction and excavation;
• algorithms for localization and navigation, and task or mission planning;
• techniques for safe and precise orbital maneuvering and landing;
• experiments conducted in space or planetary analogue settings; and
• analysis of human robot interaction and robot autonomy. 

Papers for this special issue must provide technical descriptions of systems and results and analysis of experimentation. We invite discussion and analysis of orbital robots/spacecraft and planetary rovers as well as prototype systems that have been field tested in terrestrial analogue environments. Lessons learned in development and operation are pertinent to the discussion.

We encourage papers addressing all aspects of space robotic systems. Our emphasis is on systems that fulfill a specific space-relevant application. Robotic systems in Earth orbit, traveling in deep space, and operating on the surfaces of planets, moons, comets, or asteroids are of particular interest, as well systems envisioned for space application but developed and demonstrated in relevant environments here on Earth.

The JFR encourages multimedia content and this issue seeks inclusion of media illustrating system concept, experiments, and of course space operation.

Deadlines:

September 14, 2018 – Submit manuscripts

October 26, 2018 – Initial reviews completed

December 14, 2018 – Decisions and author notification

January 25, 2019 – Final manuscripts for publication

Authors interested can discuss submissions with the special issue editors