Scope

With the advent of the era of embodied intelligence and large language models, along with the continuous advancement of technologies such as core components and intelligent manufacturing, humanoid robots are poised to become a golden opportunity for the future. In this wave of innovation in humanoid robotics, renowned technology companies like UBTECH, Unitree, Boston Dynamics, Tesla, and FigureAI, as well as countless start-up teams, are shining like stars. They have all entered the new arena of humanoid robots, injecting a continuous stream of vitality and hope into the industry. From the perspective of industrial development, the humanoid robot industry is expected to achieve mass production by 2025, with a commercial breakthrough anticipated in 2026. Morgan Stanley predicts that the global humanoid robot market could reach a staggering $60 trillion. In light of this, Research has published a special virtual issue in the field of robotics, aiming to showcase innovative works related to robotics from around the world.

This special issue aims to advance interdisciplinary research on humanoid robots, focusing on their design, intelligence, interaction capabilities, and real-world applications. It seeks to address technological challenges, ethical considerations, and societal impacts while fostering collaboration across robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), cognitive science, and human-robot interaction (HRI) communities. Contributions should highlight innovations that enhance humanoid robots' autonomy, adaptability, and usability in diverse environments, from healthcare to industrial settings.

Topics of interest include (but are not limited to):

    • Design and Mechanics

    o Novel materials, actuators, and biomimetic structures.

    o Energy efficiency, lightweight designs, and mobility (e.g., bipedal locomotion).

    • AI and Cognition

    o Machine learning for motion planning, object recognition, and decision-making.

    o Cognitive architectures, emotional intelligence, and theory of mind in robots.

    • Sensors and Perception

    o Advanced vision, tactile sensing, and multimodal sensor fusion.

    o Environment mapping, human intent recognition, and context-aware responses.

    • Human-Robot Interaction (HRI)

    o Natural language processing, gesture recognition, and social cues.

    o Trust, collaboration, and long-term engagement in human-robot teams.

    • Applications

    o Healthcare (rehabilitation, elderly care), education, disaster response, and entertainment.

    o Industrial collaboration (co-working spaces, logistics).

    • Emerging Trends

    o Neuromorphic computing, biohybrid systems, and brain-inspired algorithms.

    o Swarm robotics and humanoid-robot ecosystems.

    • Case Studies and Benchmarking

    o Real-world deployments, performance metrics, and reproducibility.

Guest Editors

Renzhi Lu, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China

Zhibo Pang, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and ABB, Sweden

Yuemin Ding, University of Navarra, Spain

Peng Wei, George Washington University, USA

Submission Instructions

Please ensure that your manuscript adheres to Research's submission guidelines. Detailed instructions for submission and author guidelines can be found in the Guidelines for Authors. The deadline for submissions is December 31, 2025. We look forward to receiving your contributions to the Advanced Technologies of Humanoid Robots.

Please indicate in your cover letter that your submission is intended for inclusion in the special issue.

Should you have any inquiries about the special issue or the submission process, please direct your correspondence to the Guest Editor Dr. Renzhi Lu via email rzlu@hust.edu.cn and Research@cast.org.cn.