Abstract
With the rapid advancements in robotics and artificial intelligence, human–robot collaboration and interaction have become a cornerstone of research and technological development. The seamless integrating of robotic systems with human partners is crucial for enhancing efficiency, adaptability, and safety across diverse application domains. This focused section highlights recent breakthroughs in human–robot collaboration and interaction technologies, showcasing novel contributions to shared autonomy, adaptive control, human-in-the-loop systems, and communication interfaces across industrial, healthcare, and interactive environments.
This focused section received 80 paper submissions, from which nine were selected through a rigorous peer-review process. These papers are organized into three key themes: (1) Human–robot interaction in assistive applications, (2) Advanced methods for safe and intelligent human–robot collaboration, and (3) Innovative interfaces and technologies for human–robot communication. Each contribution offers valuable insights into the challenges and solutions shaping the next generation of human–robot collaboration and interaction.