This Open Access proceedings present a good overview of the current research landscape of industrial robots. The objective of MHI Colloquium is a successful networking at academic and management level. Thereby the colloquium is focussing on a high level academic exchange to distribute the obtained research results, determine synergetic effects and trends, connect the actors personally and in conclusion strengthen the research field as well as the MHI community. Additionally there is the possibility to become acquainted with the organizing institute. Primary audience are members of the scientific association for assembly, handling and industrial robots (WG MHI).

This Open Access proceedings presents a good overview of the current research landscape of assembly, handling and industrial robotics. The objective of MHI Colloquium is the successful networking at both academic and management level. Thereby, the colloquium focuses an academic exchange at a high level in order to distribute the obtained research results, to determine synergy effects and trends, to connect the actors in person and in conclusion, to strengthen the research field as well as the MHI community. In addition, there is the possibility to become acquatined with the organizing institute. Primary audience is formed by members of the scientific society for assembly, handling and industrial robotics (WGMHI).

This book reports on the latest scientific achievements on robot kinematics provided by the prominent researchers participating in the 18th International Symposium on Advances in Robot Kinematics ARK2022, organized in the University of the Basque Country, Bilbao, Spain. It is of interest to researchers wanting to know more about the latest topics and methods in the fields of the kinematics, control and design of robotic systems. The book brings together 53 peer-reviewed papers. These cover the full range of robotic systems, including serial, parallel, flexible mechanisms, and cable-driven manipulators, and tackle problems such as: kinematic analysis of robots, robot modelling and simulation, theories and methods in kinematics, singularity analysis, kinematic problems in parallel robots, redundant robots, cable robots, kinematics in biological systems, flexible parallel manipulators, humanoid robots and humanoid subsystems.

This book presents the proceedings of the 31st International Conference on Robotics in Alpe-Adria-Danube Region (RAAD), held in Klagenfurt, Austria, June 8-10, 2022. It gathers contributions by researchers from several countries on all major areas of robotic research, development and innovation, as well as new applications and current trends. The topics covered include: novel designs and applications of robotic systems, intelligent cooperating and service robots, advanced robot control, human-robot interfaces, robot vision systems, mobile robots, humanoid and walking robots, bio-inspired and swarm robotic systems, aerial, underwater and spatial robots, robots for ambient assisted living, medical robots and bionic prostheses, cognitive robots, cloud robotics, ethical and social issues in robotics, etc. Given its scope, the book offers a source of information and inspiration for researchers seeking to improve their work and gather new ideas for future developments. Chapter “The Use of Robots in Aquatic Biomonitoring with Special Focus on Biohybrid Entities” is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.

This book includes state-of-the-art and original research contributions from two well-established conferences, which collectively focus on the joint design, development, and management of products, advanced production systems, and business for sustainable customization and personalization. The book includes wide range of topics within these subjects, ranging from industrial success factors to original contributions within the field. The authors represent worldwide leading research institutions.

Who hasn’t dreamed of seeing matter transformed in a way that suits you? This is the goal of 4D printing, using materials that can change in terms of shape and property under the effect of energy stimulation. From the description of the actions and actuators, the authors show the weaknesses that limit the industrialization of 4D printing processes; these are the modes of energy stimulation. To prepare for the future, two chapters are introduced: “Material-Process Duality in Industrial 4D Printing” and “How to Approach 4D Printing in Design”. If the capture and reuse of 4D printing knowledge is necessary for this objective, the conclusion leaves the existing myth around the 4D printing theme and proposes a “draft” roadmap that should be the subject of reflection and scientific debate on a concept that is still immature, but full of promise.

This book presents peer-reviewed papers from 14th International Conference on Learning Factories (CLF 2024) that took place from April 17-19, 2024, at the University of Twente, the Netherlands. CLF 2024 continued the successful CLF conference series targeting the latest research and development in the field of learning factories. The book is organized into two volumes and covers state-of-the-art research insights towards Learning Factories of the Future including learning factory design, Industry 5.0, digital twinning and VR/AR, 5G/6G in learning factories, AI for manufacturing systems, human-centred work design, human-robot collaboration, sustainability in learning factories, as well as cross-learning factory product/production systems. The book seamlessly integrates theory with real-world practice, empowering learners such as students, qualified engineers, and workers to keep pace with rapidly evolving technologies and methodologies, through enhancing learning factories. It also helps society and industry effectively manage future transitions with addressing current topics around digitalization, sustainability, and lifelong learning in industry.