Abstract & Overview
The competitiveness of companies in the global market highly depends on the efficiency of industrial processes, which rely on technologically advanced machines and equipment. Moreover, through the extensive use of automation and robotics, it is possible to attain the required product quality and production flexibility to adapt to new product references, production rates, and low fabrication costs. Over time, automation and robotics have become the best way to achieve the goals of the market. Therefore, these technologies are subject to continuous evolution, constantly presenting new solutions. Major advances and developments were recently experienced, both academically and industrially, with an emphasis on collaborative robotics (cobots), advanced control systems in automation, additive manufacturing for machine design, smart factory and Industry 4.0, sustainable manufacturing and green design, and machine learning in robotics. This Reprint brings together a significant number of contributions in this area through the publication of high-quality original works in the field, subsequently promoting its dissemination through the Open Access system.