Special Issue on Bioelectronics

Recent biological approaches in robotic research and development have been advancing in two ways: 1) steady advances toward intelligent bio-systems by making sensors more integrated and functional, and 2) studies on the coordination of bio-information from various sources. For the coordination of bio-information dealt with in this special issue, its necessity was originally discussed in the area of mobile robots. For a mobile robot performing tasks autonomously, recognition of its relation with the external environment is essential. The concept perhaps came up as robotics aimed to improve robots' toughness to changing and unknown environments, by coordinating information from several sense organs (visual, tactile etc.) to obtain more accurate information. Man constructs a recognition system more reliably as a whole by coordinating various sets of sensory information. Attempts are also being made to con struct a new bio-information coordinating architecture aimed at achieving functions equivalent to those of human recognition. This special'issue was planned to present recent research and development as well as problems and trends in bio-information. This area of study is still in its infancy, with no study frameworks and methodology having been established in its short history. In contrast to other past special issues, this one stresses biological approaches, and I hope it will be helpful in developing the specific area of study mentioned here while helping robotists recognize current studies and problems. Finally, I express my sincere thanks to those who spared time to contribute to this issue, and to the editorial staff of the journal.