Humanoid Robotics: Integrating Cognitive and Physical Abilities for Human-Centered Environments [From the Guest Editors]

It is evident that the scope of this “From the Guest Editors” column does not permit a comprehensive enumeration of the domains in which robotics finds application. However, they could be categorized, for example, according to the environment in which the robots operate (un)structured or the degree of autonomy exhibited. Other classifications can be made with regard to the application of the robots, such as in the fields of logistics, disaster scenarios, or marine robotics. A further categorization may be based on whether the application is in a so-called greenfield or brownfield environment. The former can be understood as an environment made for automation, while the latter was not initially intended for this. Notably, environments designed for human activity continue to present significant challenges for robotics. Examples of such environments include disaster scenarios, care or health facilities, residential homes, and conventional transportation systems, particularly roads.