Aims and Scope
The Journal of Applied Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (JRAI) publishes original research and comprehensive reviews advancing the scientific foundations, engineering principles, and technological innovations in robotics and artificial intelligence systems. We focus on computational methods, autonomous systems design, and intelligent automation technologies that demonstrate measurable impact across industrial, research, and societal applications.
Core Research Domains
Autonomous Systems & Control Tier 1
- Motion planning and trajectory optimization algorithms
- Sensor fusion and state estimation techniques
- Adaptive and robust control systems for robots
- Navigation in dynamic and unstructured environments
- Multi-robot coordination and swarm robotics
- Real-time decision-making architectures
Machine Learning & AI Algorithms Tier 1
- Deep learning architectures for robotic perception
- Reinforcement learning for robot control and optimization
- Computer vision and object recognition systems
- Natural language processing for human-robot communication
- Transfer learning and domain adaptation in robotics
- Explainable AI for autonomous decision-making
Robot Design & Mechatronics Tier 1
- Novel actuator and sensor integration systems
- Soft robotics and compliant mechanism design
- Bio-inspired robotic systems and biomimetics
- Modular and reconfigurable robot architectures
- Energy-efficient design and power management
- Advanced materials for robotic applications
Human-Robot Interaction Tier 1
- Intuitive interfaces for robot programming and control
- Collaborative robotics and shared autonomy systems
- Social robotics and affective computing
- Safety systems for human-robot collaboration
- Gesture and speech recognition for robot control
- User experience design for robotic systems
Secondary Focus Areas
Industrial Automation & Manufacturing
AI-driven quality control systems, predictive maintenance using machine learning, robotic assembly line optimization, digital twin technologies for manufacturing processes, and smart factory integration architectures.
Agricultural & Environmental Robotics
Precision agriculture robots, autonomous harvesting systems, environmental monitoring using drone swarms, AI-based crop disease detection, and robotic solutions for sustainable farming practices.
Service & Assistive Robotics
Domestic service robots, assistive devices for elderly and disabled populations, rehabilitation robotics, educational robots for STEM learning, and entertainment robotics with AI capabilities.
Aerial & Underwater Systems
Autonomous drone navigation and control, unmanned aerial vehicle swarms, underwater robot localization, marine robotics for exploration and inspection, and multi-domain robotic systems.
Simulation & Virtual Environments
Physics-based simulation for robot training, virtual reality for robot teleoperation, synthetic data generation for machine learning, digital twins for robot testing, and simulation-to-reality transfer techniques.
Edge Computing & Embedded AI
On-device machine learning for robots, real-time AI inference optimization, distributed computing architectures for multi-robot systems, energy-efficient neural network implementations, and hardware accelerators for robotics.
Emerging & Frontier Topics
Quantum Computing for Robotics
Quantum algorithms for optimization problems in robotics, quantum machine learning applications, and quantum-enhanced sensor systems for autonomous navigation.
Neuromorphic Computing
Brain-inspired computing architectures for robots, spiking neural networks for real-time processing, and event-based vision systems for autonomous systems.
Bio-Hybrid Systems
Integration of biological and artificial components, living machine systems, and biologically-inspired sensing and actuation mechanisms.
Explainable Robotics
Interpretable AI models for autonomous systems, transparency in robot decision-making, and human-understandable explanations of robot behavior.
Explicitly Out of Scope
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Pure Theoretical Computer Science
Algorithm complexity analysis, formal verification methods, or computational theory without direct application to robotic systems or AI implementations. We require demonstrated relevance to physical or simulated robotic platforms.
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General Software Engineering
Software development methodologies, code optimization techniques, or programming language design unless specifically addressing challenges unique to robotics or AI system development.
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Business & Management Studies
Market analysis of AI adoption, organizational change management, business strategy for robotics companies, or economic impact studies without technical innovation component.
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Pure Hardware Electronics
Circuit design, semiconductor physics, or electronic component development unless integrated within complete robotic systems or AI hardware accelerators with demonstrated performance gains.
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Clinical Medical Applications
Patient diagnosis, treatment protocols, clinical trials, or medical outcomes research. We focus on robotic device engineering and AI algorithm development, not clinical practice or patient care.
Article Types & Editorial Priorities
Expedited Review (4-6 weeks)
Regular Review (6-8 weeks)
Selective Acceptance
Editorial Standards & Requirements
Reporting Guidelines
- Algorithm descriptions: Pseudocode and complexity analysis required
- Experimental studies: Complete parameter specifications and reproducibility details
- Hardware systems: CAD files, circuit diagrams, and bill of materials
- Machine learning: Training data characteristics, hyperparameters, validation protocols
- Benchmark comparisons: Standardized metrics and statistical significance testing
Data & Code Availability
- Open data policy: Datasets must be publicly accessible or available upon request
- Code sharing: Source code for novel algorithms strongly encouraged
- Reproducibility: Sufficient detail for independent replication required
- Simulation environments: Configuration files and parameters must be provided
- Supplementary materials: Videos, demonstrations, and extended data welcomed
Ethics & Responsible AI
- Human subjects research: IRB approval and informed consent documentation
- AI fairness: Bias assessment and mitigation strategies for learning systems
- Safety considerations: Risk analysis for autonomous systems
- Privacy protection: Data anonymization and security measures
- Dual-use concerns: Responsible disclosure of potentially harmful applications
Preprint & Prior Publication
- Preprint servers: ArXiv, bioRxiv posting permitted and encouraged
- Conference papers: Extended versions with 30%+ new content accepted
- Concurrent submission: Not permitted to other journals
- Self-plagiarism: Significant overlap with prior work must be disclosed
- Version control: Clear documentation of changes from preprint versions
Ready to Submit Your Research?
Join researchers worldwide advancing the frontiers of robotics and artificial intelligence. Our rigorous peer review process ensures your work reaches the right audience and makes lasting impact.
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