Encyclopedia of Robotics

The Encyclopedia of Robotics addresses the existing need for an easily accessible yet authoritative and granular knowledge resource in robotic science and engineering.

The encyclopedia is a work that comprehensively explains the scientific, application-based, interactive and socio-ethical parameters of robotics. It is the first work that explains at the concept and fact level the state of the field of robotics and its future directions. The encyclopedia is a complement to Springer’s highly successful Handbook of Robotics that has analyzed the state of robotics through the medium of descriptive essays. Organized in an A-Z format for quick and easy understanding of both the basic and advanced topics across a broad spectrum of areas in a self-contained form. The entries in this encyclopedia will be a comprehensive description of terms used in robotics science and technology. Each term, when useful, is described concisely with online illustrations.

Dr. Marcelo H. Ang, Jr.,received the B.S. degrees (Cum Laude) in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Management Engineering from the De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines, in 1981; the M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1985; and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, in 1986 and 1988, respectively. His work experience include heading the Technical Training Division of Intel's Assembly and Test Facility in the Philippines, research positions at the East West Center in Hawaii and at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a faculty position as an Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Rochester, New York. In 1989, Dr. Ang joined the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the National University of Singapore, where he is currently an Associate Professor. In addition to academic and research activities, he is actively involved in the Singapore Robotic Games as its founding chairman. His research interests span the areas of robotics, mechatronics, automation, computer control and applications of intelligent systems methodologies.

Prof. Dr. Oussama Khatib is Professor of Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, California, USA. His research interests are methodologies and technologies of autonomous robots, cooperative robots, human-centered robotics, haptic interaction, dynamic simulation, virtual environments, augmented tele operation and human-friendly robot design.

Prof. Dr. Bruno Siciliano was born in Naples, Italy, on October 27, 1959. He received the Laurea degree and the Research Doctorate degree in Electronic Engineering from the University of Naples in 1982 and 1987, respectively. He is Professor of Control and Robotics and Director of the PRISMA Lab in the Department of ElectricalEngineering and Information Technology at University of Naples. His research interests include identification and adaptive control, impedance and force control, visual tracking and servoing, redundant and cooperative manipulators, lightweight flexible arms, aerial robots, human-centered and service robotics. He has co-authored 11 books, 70 journal papers, 200 conference papers and book chapters; his book Robotics: Modelling, Planning and Control is one of the most widely adopted textbooks worldwide. He has delivered more than 100 invited lectures and seminars at institutions worldwide. He is a Fellow of IEEE, ASME and IFAC. He is Co-Editor of the Springer Tracts in Advanced Robotics series, and has served on the editorial boards of several journals as well as Chair or Co-Chair for numerous international conferences. He co-edited the Springer Handbook of Robotics, which received the AAP PROSE Award for Excellence in Physical Sciences & Mathematics and was also the winner in the category Engineering & Technology. His group has been granted twelve European projects. He has served the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society as President, as Vice-President for Technical Activities and Vice-President for Publications, as a member of the AdCom and as a Distinguished Lecturer.