npj Robotics is a peer-reviewed scientific journal, publishing high-quality research across the diverse disciplines of robotics. It serves as a platform for disseminating new discoveries and innovative approaches in this rapidly progressing area. Its primary focus involves exploring how both the physical aspects and “intelligence” of robots are considered from initial design stages. The journal aims to foster cross-fertilization among scientific domains that contribute to robotics development.
The Nature Partner Journals Initiative
The “npj” designation signifies npj Robotics’s affiliation with the Nature Partner Journals (npj) initiative, launched by Nature Publishing Group. This initiative increases commitment to open science by offering high-quality, online-only, subject-specific journals. Nature Partner Journals are characterized by partnerships with research institutions, foundations, and academic societies, allowing for collaboration in publishing. For each journal, Nature Publishing Group and its partners identify a need for open access publications in emerging or underserved fields.
npj Robotics maintains rigorous editorial standards, consistent with the Nature brand’s reputation for excellence. These journals adopt a modified set of Nature editorial standards, including strict requirements for the appointment of Editors-in-Chief. Continuous assessment of editorial quality against agreed performance indicators is also conducted. This model ensures that npj Robotics upholds scientific integrity and broadens the global reach of its published research.
Key Research Themes in npj Robotics
npj Robotics covers diverse research themes, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of the field. The journal emphasizes innovations in both hardware and software, recognizing their synergy in endowing robots with autonomy. This includes advancements in materials, electronics, manufacturing, and artificial intelligence, which contribute to technological progress in robotics. The journal features research inspired by natural intelligence, focusing on the co-evolution of bodies and “minds” in biological systems.
A prominent area of focus is artificial intelligence in robotics, particularly the development and application of brain-inspired computational primitives on neuromorphic computing devices. Research explores how these systems solve real-world engineering tasks, mimicking the sparse and asynchronous processing found in animal brains for low-latency and low-energy operations. This also extends to the design and training of spiking neural networks for neuromorphic hardware. Sensory-motor coordination is another theme, with studies exploring efficient methods for robots, such as drones, to navigate and avoid collisions in unknown environments by exploiting aerodynamic interactions.
Human-robot interaction (HRI) is also a theme, investigating how robots are perceived and interacted with by humans. Studies examine factors like eye contact in humanoid robots and its impact on perceived socialness and interaction quality. Soft robotics, involving the design and fabrication of robots from compliant materials, is another area of interest. This research explores architectured structures that leverage unique topology and geometry to modify physical and mechanical properties. The journal also delves into medical robotics, with examples such as biomimetic whisker-based methods for gastrointestinal disease screening.
The Journal’s Role in Advancing Robotics
npj Robotics contributes to the advancement of robotics by providing a platform for disseminating high-quality, peer-reviewed research. The journal’s commitment to open access publishing increases the visibility and impact of the research it publishes. This open availability allows for broader access to new findings, fostering quicker adoption and development within the scientific community.
The journal’s rigorous peer-review process sets standards for research quality in robotics, ensuring that published work is original, significant, and contributes meaningfully to the field. By featuring advances across diverse disciplines, npj Robotics encourages cross-fertilization of ideas and interdisciplinary collaboration. This approach supports the development of comprehensive robotic systems that integrate innovations from various scientific and engineering domains. The journal’s focus on foundational and applied research pushes the boundaries of what robots can achieve, influencing future innovations and applications in areas ranging from industrial automation to healthcare.