A journal of IFAC, The International Federation of Automatic Control.

Mechatronics is an international refereed journal that publishes articles that report advances in the state-of-the-art in Mechatronics and Robotics. We welcome original submissions that report creative or innovative methodology and solutions with a synergistic combination of mechanical engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, control systems, data engineering and AI for intelligent machines or robotic systems. Submitted manuscripts are expected to report experimental results obtained from laboratory or full-scale mechatronic apparatus.

Some of the topics addressed in the published articles include:

    Mechatronics:

Modeling, identification and control of mechatronic systems; motion and vibration control; solutions for machines towards autonomy; micro/nano systems and devices; automotive systems; biomedical mechatronic systems; and advanced manufacturing equipment and processes.

    Robotics:

Modeling, control, learning and system issues related to: autonomous vehicles and robots, marine, underwater, and aerial robots, legged robots, soft robots, field robots, industrial robots, medical robots; human-robot interaction; collaborative and autonomous systems; teleoperation; haptics; and multi-robot systems.

Types of Articles

    Regular Articles:

Articles that describe original research of high quality in Mechatronics or in Robotics.

    Review Articles:

Contain a detailed survey of established or emerging topics of interest to the journal readership.

    Robotics and Mechatronics Letters:

Short manuscripts, no longer than seven printed journal pages, that report important time sensitive results in Robotics or in Mechatronics. These articles will go through a rapid review process overseen by a dedicated Co-Editor-in- Chief.

    Book Reviews:

A detailed review of published textbooks or research monographs of interest to Mechatronics' readership.

Special Issue on Numerical Differentiation: Methods and Applications in Mechatronics
Submission Date: 2025-10-15

Numerical differentiation is fundamental for smart mechatronic systems, allowing accurate estimation of state and parameters, improving feedback control performance, and supporting diagnostic and sensor fusion algorithms. These capabilities are indispensable in real-time embedded control systems, yet challenging since signals of interest are typically corrupted by disturbances, and often derivatives cannot be directly measured. The design of efficient numerical differentiators is thus a critical task in ensuring high-fidelity estimation and control.

Despite its long-standing presence in engineering practice, numerical differentiation remains an active area of research because of its inherent ill-posedness and the increasing demands placed on accuracy and computational efficiency in modern mechatronic systems. This special issue aims to consolidate recent theoretical advancements and practical methodologies in numerical differentiation with a particular focus on applications in mechatronic and robotic system.

This special issue places particular attention on methods that are suited for real-time execution and offer systematic procedures for parameter selection, along with formal guarantees for stability and robustness. Thus, it aims to bridge the gap between theoretical development and practical deployment by showcasing methods that balance analytical soundness with implementation feasibility with a particular focus on applications in mechatronic and robotic systems. 

Guest editors:

Dr. Amine Othmane (Executive Guest Editor)
Systems Modeling and Simulation, Saarland University, Saarbrucken, Germany
Email: amine.othmane@uni-saarland.de

Dr. Richard Seeber
Institute of Automation and Control, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria
Email: richard.seeber@tugraz.at

Special issue information:

Topics for this call for papers include, but are not restricted to:

• Design of differentiators based on approaches that include, but are not limited to, high-gain, sliding-mode, or differential-algebraic methods
• Analysis of differentiator performance in time and frequency domain including effects such as the impact of measurement disturbances or discretization effects
• Tuning of differentiator parameters based on approaches that include, but are not limited to, adaptive or optimization-based methods
• Real-time implementation of differentiators based on sampled measurements and analysis of computational complexity and numerical effects
• Use of differentiators in machine learning approaches
• Application of differentiators in robotics, autonomous systems, aerospace engineering, electrical and mechanical systems, and biomedical engineering

Manuscript submission information:

Important Dates:

    Submission Open Date: July 15, 2025
    Submission Deadline: October 15, 2025
    Notification of Acceptance: February 28, 2026

Contributed papers must be submitted via the Mechatronics online submission system (Editorial Manager®): Please select the article type “VSI: Numerical Differentiation in Mechatronics” when submitting the manuscript online.

All submissions deemed suitable to be sent for peer review will be reviewed by at least two independent reviewers. Once your manuscript is accepted, it will go into production and will be simultaneously published in the current regular issue and pulled into the online Special Issue. Articles from this Special Issue will appear in different regular issues of the journal, though they will be clearly marked and branded as Special Issue articles.

Please refer to the Guide for Authors to prepare your manuscript.

For any further information, the authors may contact the Guest Editors.

Keywords:

Numerical Differentiation, Real-Time Estimation, Sliding Mode Differentiators, Algebraic Differentiators, Mechatronic Systems, Discrete-Time Implementation

Special Issue on The 23rd IFAC World Congress: Mechatronic Systems
Submission Date: 2025-10-26

This virtual special issue (VSI) TC4.2 Mechatronic Systems (IFAC WC 2026) is related to the IFAC World Congress 2026 taking place in Busan, Republic of Korea, August 23-28, 2026. Its scope is similar to the scope of TC4.2 on Mechatronic Systems, which covers the synergistic approach to utilize advanced control, sensing, and actuation methodologies in a variety of applications across many fields, such as robotics and automation, motion and vibration control, automotive systems, biomedical systems, micro and nanoscale systems, energy systems, and information storage systems.

For a detailed description on the submission procedures for this VSI, see https://www.ifac2026.org/.

Guest editors:

Wolfgang Kemmetmueller
(Executive Guest Editor),
TU Wien University, Vienna, Austria; 
Email: kemmetmueller@acin.tuwien.ac.at

Micky Rakotondrabe,
University of Technology Tarbes Occitanie Pyrenees, Tarbes, France; 
Email: mrakoton@uttop.fr

Mohammad Al Janaideh,
University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada;
Email: maljanai@uoguelph.ca

Sebastiaan VAN DEN EIJNDEN, 
Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands;
Email: s.j.a.m.v.d.eijnden@tue.nl

Michael G. Ruppert, 
University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, Australia; Email: michael.ruppert@uts.edu.au

Michael Ruderman, 
University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway;
Email: michael.ruderman@uia.no

Ernst Csencsics, 
TU Wien University, Wien, Austria;
Email: csencsics@acin.tuwien.ac.at

Roger Dixon, 
University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK;
Email: r.dixon@bham.ac.uk

Special issue information:

This special issue aims to provide a comprehensive forum for showcasing cutting-edge research, innovative methodologies, and practical advancements that shape the future of mechatronic systems. We invites contributions addressing all topics within the scope of IFAC Technical Committee 4.2 on Mechatronic Systems. The focus includes fundamental theories, integrated design methodologies, technological innovations, and advancements in both industrial and emerging application domains. 

Areas of interest encompass, but are not limited to:

Modeling, system identification, and control strategies / Sensing and actuation technologies / Interdisciplinary and cross-domain design approaches / Methodologies for the realization of mechatronic systems. We particularly welcome research that bridges theory and practice, spanning basic scientific investigations through to applied research and industrial deployment. Applications of interest include (but are not limited to): Educational technologies and tools / Nano-, micro-, and macro-scale manufacturing systems / Aerospace, automotive, ground, and underwater vehicles and powertrains / Energy systems and smart grids / Medical and healthcare mechatronic devices / Cyber-physical systems and the Internet of Things (IoT) / Mechatronics for Robotics. 

Manuscript submission information:

This special issue is exclusive for IFAC WC authors using the journal option Mechatronics, TC 4.2 Mechatronic Systems. Each contributed authors will be asked to provide the PaperPlaza (PP) number when submitting the manuscript.

Important Dates:

    Submission Open Date: July 15, 2025
    Submission Deadline: October 26, 2025
    Notification of Acceptance: April 15, 2026

Contributed papers must be submitted via the Mechatronics online submission system (Editorial Manager®): Please select the article type “VSI: TC 4.2 Mechatronic Systems (IFAC WC 2026)” when submitting the manuscript online.

All submissions deemed suitable to be sent for peer review will be reviewed by at least two independent reviewers. Once your manuscript is accepted, it will go into production and will be simultaneously published in the current regular issue and pulled into the online Special Issue. Articles from this Special Issue will appear in different regular issues of the journal, though they will be clearly marked and branded as Special Issue articles.

Please refer to the Guide for Authors to prepare your manuscript.

For any further information, the authors may contact the Guest Editors.

Keywords:

(Mechatronic system modeling, design, optimization), (Application of mechatronic principles), (Smart structures and vibration control), (Mechatronics for robotic systems), (Mechatronic system estimation, identification, control)

Special Issue on The 23rd IFAC World Congress: Robotics
Submission Date: 2025-10-26

The 23rd International Federation of Automatic Control World Congress (IFAC WC 2026, https://ifac2026.org/fairDash.do?hl=ENG ) will be held in August 23 - 28, 2026 at Busan, Republic of Korea. This special issue is launched in connection with the IFAC WC 2026, topic: TC 4.3 Robotics.

The field of robotics has evolved from being merely an application of control systems to establishing itself as a distinct discipline and a thriving industry. While robotics and mechatronics share similarities, both combining mechanical and control engineering to offer technical solutions for specific purposes, robotics stands out as a field that is markedly demand-driven, practical, and solution-oriented. Consequently, the challenges encountered in robotics often necessitate not only the development of new solutions by optimally integrating existing methods but also exploring entirely novel methodologies and simulation approaches.

Due to these distinctive characteristics, engineering methods used in robotics are in a perpetual state of evolution. Control engineering methods follow a similar trajectory. Classical robotics, which once relied on planning and precisely executing motions, has undergone a paradigm shift in the 2020s, focusing on task-oriented, data-driven, simulation-based design, among other approaches. Consequently, control in robotics is no longer confined to mere motion generation; it now serves as preparatory work for crafting sophisticated system designs and assumes the role of risk management, actively adapting to complex and unpredictable environments.

The academic community of robotics researchers continues to expand daily. The Robotics Group within IFAC strives to be a specialized community with a central focus on the control of robotic systems. The TC 4.3 Robotics aims to serve as a platform for the exchange of ideas concerning the rapidly advancing field of robot control technology, offering a forum for young engineers and researchers to participate in open and constructive discussions.

Guest editors:

Kyoungchul Kong (Executive Guest Editor), Sogang University, Seoul, South Korea; Email: kckong@kaist.ac.kr
Samer Mohammed, University Paris-Est Créteil Val de Marne, Créteil, France; Email: samer.mohammed@u-pec.fr
Hyunjin Choi, Sangmyung University, Seoul, South Korea; Email: hyunjin@smu.ac.kr
Zheng Chen, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Email: zheng_chen@zju.edu.cn
Björn Hein, Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences, Karlsruhe, Germany; Email: bjoern.hein@h-ka.de
Sehoon Oh, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology, Daegu, South Korea; Email: sehoon@dgist.ac.kr

Special issue information:

Robotics Special Issue aims to address the academic, societal, and industrial issues related to robotics and discuss appropriate solutions. The specific topics to be covered include (but are not limited to):

- Societal, cultural, economic, and industrial demands for robotics.
- Technical and economic challenges in promoting the industrialization of robots.
- Mechatronics approaches for robot system development.
- The latest component technologies that constitute robots.
- Robot operating systems.
- Data collection, signal processing, and management for robots.
- Service design for robots and user feedback management.
- Cooperative control methods using multiple robots.
- Robot system simulation and reinforcement learning.
- Methods to bridge the gap between simulation and real-world application (Sim2real).

Manuscript submission information:

This special issue is exclusive for IFAC WC authors using the journal option Mechatronics, TC 4.3 Robotics. Each contributed authors will be asked to provide the PaperPlaza (PP) number when submitting the manuscript.

Important Dates:

    Submission Open Date: July 15, 2025
    Submission Deadline: October 26, 2025
    Notification of Acceptance: April 15, 2026

Contributed papers must be submitted via the Mechatronics online submission system (Editorial Manager®): Please select the article type “VSI: TC 4.3 Robotics (IFAC WC 2026)” when submitting the manuscript online.

All submissions deemed suitable to be sent for peer review will be reviewed by at least two independent reviewers. Once your manuscript is accepted, it will go into production and will be simultaneously published in the current regular issue and pulled into the online Special Issue. Articles from this Special Issue will appear in different regular issues of the journal, though they will be clearly marked and branded as Special Issue articles.

Please refer to the Guide for Authors to prepare your manuscript.

For any further information, the authors may contact the Guest Editors.

Keywords:

Robotics, Robotics applications, Control in Robotics