Editorial: Wearables for human-robot interaction and collaboration

Abstract

Wearable devices and related technologies have become deeply embedded in daily life. From consumer electronics to healthcare and industrial automation, wearables are now ubiquitous, enabling seamless interaction between humans and machines and fundamentally transforming modern lifestyles. Devices such as smartwatches, intelligent armbands and gloves, smart insoles, and VR headsets are increasingly popular to support fitness, healthcare, and telepresence operations. At the same time, personalized wearable robots, including exoskeletons, prosthetic limbs, and supernumerary robotic arms, provide real-time physical support for rehabilitation, human motor restoration, and enhancement of capabilities. By inferring human intentions and interpreting behavioral and physiological signals, these systems are reshaping the foundations of human–robot interaction and collaboration. With the rise of concepts such as human-centered design and Tri-cobots (coexisting–cooperative–cognitive robots), the development of wearable technologies has been accelerating.