Digital Twins and IoT for Industrial Robotics

Smart factory automation has emerged as a key technology for enhancing manufacturing efficiency, reducing costs, and increasing flexibility in modern industries. The integration of IoT, digital twins, and robotics has enabled the development of smart factories that can optimize manufacturing processes and improve product quality. The use of sensors, connected devices, and data analytics provides real-time insights into production processes, enabling timely decision-making and process optimization. Digital twins are virtual replicas of physical assets that enable real-time monitoring and control of manufacturing processes. Robotics plays a crucial role in automating manufacturing tasks, improving production efficiency, and reducing labor costs.

The goal of this research topic is to explore the current state-of-the-art and recent advances in smart factory automation through IoT, digital twins, and robotics integration. The focus is on identifying the challenges and opportunities in this area and proposing innovative solutions to address them. The research topic will also aim to highlight the potential benefits of smart factory automation for manufacturing industries, such as improved productivity, quality, and sustainability.

The scope of this research topic includes, but is not limited to, the following themes:

• IoT-enabled smart factory automation
• Digital twin technology for smart manufacturing
• Robotics and automation in smart factories
• Data analytics and machine learning for smart manufacturing
• Cybersecurity and privacy in smart factory automation
• Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing systems
• AI, intelligent control, neuro-control, fuzzy control, and their applications
• Smart manufacturing
• Industrial automation, process control, manufacturing process
• Intelligent control and AI in Mechatronics
• Robot intelligence and learning
• Robot vision and audition
• Soft robotics
• Robotic systems modelling, optimization, simulation, and experiments.
• Robots and Automation
• Robotic grasping and manipulation
• Sensor design, sensor fusion, sensor networks
• Human-robot interaction
• Universal design and services, ubiquitous robots, and devices
• Locomotion and manipulation in biological and robot systems
• Wearable and exoskeleton robots
• Bionic robot navigation, task, and motion planning
• Bionic robotics, autonomous and evolutionary robotics

We welcome original research articles, reviews, and perspectives in this field. The articles can cover theoretical or applied research and can be focused on a specific technology, application, or industry sector. We are particularly interested in articles that present novel solutions or case studies demonstrating the practical implementation of smart factory automation.

Keywords: Smart factory, Automation, IoT, Digital twins, Robotics

Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.