In the development of digital agriculture, agricultural robots play a unique role and confer numerous advantages in farming production. From the invention of the first industrial robots in the 1950s, robots have begun to capture the attention of both research and industry. Thanks to the recent advancements in computer science, sensing, and control approaches, agricultural robots have experienced a rapid evolution, relying on various cutting-edge technologies for different application scenarios. Indeed, significant refinements have been achieved by integrating perception, decision-making, control, and execution techniques. However, most agricultural robots continue to require intelligence solutions, limiting them to small-scale applications without quantity production because of their lack of integration with artificial intelligence. Therefore, to help researchers and engineers grasp the prevalent research status of agricultural robots, in this review we refer to more than 100 pieces of literature according to the category of agricultural robots under discussion. In this context, we bring together diverse agricultural robot research statuses and applications and discuss the benefits and challenges involved in further applications. Finally, directional indications are put forward with respect to the research trends relating to agricultural robots.

In the modern era of sports training, the synergy between motion capture and Virtual Reality (VR) offers an innovative approach to enhancing training precision. This systematic review delves into the application of motion capture within VR for sports training, highlighting its transformative potential. Through a comprehensive literature search, we examined the myriad applications, from physical conditioning enhancements to accelerated rehabilitation processes. Our findings underscore the capability of real-time feedback, immersive training environments, and tailored regimes that this fusion provides. However, despite its promise, challenges such as hardware constraints, data processing complexities, and interaction interface limitations persist. Future trajectories indicate an increasing influence of AI and deep learning, promising more sophisticated hardware and a broader spectrum of applications, including niche sports disciplines. The review concludes with an emphasis on the wider societal implications, suggesting a shift towards a holistic athlete well-being approach.

Virtual reality (VR) technology has been increasingly employed in human-robot interaction (HRI) research to enhance the immersion and realism of the interaction. However, the integration of VR into HRI also introduces new challenges, such as latency, mismatch between virtual and real environments and potential adverse effects on human users. Despite these challenges, the use of VR in HRI has the potential to provide numerous benefits, including improved communication, increased safety and enhanced training and education. Yet, little research has been done by scholars to review the state of the art of VR applications in human-robot interaction. To bridge the gap, this paper provides an overview of the challenges and benefits of using VR in HRI, as well as current research in the field and future directions for development. It has been found that robots are getting more personalized, interactive and engaging than ever; and with the popularization of virtual reality innovations, we might be able to foresee the wide adoption of VR in controlling robots to fulfill various tasks of hospitals, schools and factories. Still, there are several challenges, such as the need for more advanced VR technologies to provide more realistic and immersive experiences, the development of more human-like robot models to improve social interactions and the need for better methods of evaluating the effectiveness of VR in human-robot interaction.

Intelligent manufacturing (IM), sometimes referred to as smart manufacturing (SM), is the use of real-time data analysis, machine learning, and artificial intelligence (AI) in the production process to achieve the aforementioned efficiencies. Human-machine interaction technology has recently been a hot issue in smart manufacturing. The unique interactivity of virtual reality (VR) innovations makes it possible to create a virtual world and allow users to communicate with that environment, providing users with an interface to be immersed in the digital world of the smart factory. And virtual reality technology aims to stimulate the imagination and creativity of creators to the maximum extent possible for reconstructing the natural world in a virtual environment, generating new emotions, and transcending time and space in the familiar and unfamiliar virtual world. Recent years have seen a great leap in the development of intelligent manufacturing and virtual reality technologies, yet little research has been done to combine the two popular trends. To fill this gap, this paper specifically employs Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines to conduct a systematic review of the applications of virtual reality in smart manufacturing. Moreover, the practical challenges and the possible future direction will also be covered.

The essence of biomimetics in human–computer interaction (HCI) is the inspiration derived from natural systems to drive innovations in modern-day technologies. With this in mind, this paper introduces a biomimetic adaptive pure pursuit (A-PP) algorithm tailored for the four-wheel differential drive robot (FWDDR). Drawing inspiration from the intricate natural motions subjected to constraints, the FWDDR’s kinematic model mirrors non-holonomic constraints found in biological entities. Recognizing the limitations of traditional pure pursuit (PP) algorithms, which often mimic a static behavioral approach, our proposed A-PP algorithm infuses adaptive techniques observed in nature. Integrated with a quadratic polynomial, this algorithm introduces adaptability in both lateral and longitudinal dimensions. Experimental validations demonstrate that our biomimetically inspired A-PP approach achieves superior path-following accuracy, mirroring the efficiency and fluidity seen in natural organisms.

The contact between a traditional crop divider and sugarcane is unstable, and the sugarcane easily slides off of its surface. By analyzing the movement process of sugarcane, the influence of traditional spiral flightings on lifting performance was studied, and shortcomings were also found. Based on previous research and analysis, the variable spiral spike-toothed crop divider was designed by research groups. For sugarcane with different lodging states, the contact separation rule between the sugarcane and the spike tooth was studied, and the action time and angle of the spike tooth on sugarcane were obtained. At the same time, the interaction mechanism between sugarcane and the spike tooth was analyzed, and the conditions for lodged canes to be lifted were obtained. The influence of the spike tooth on the lifting performance was explored, and the working advantages were found for the spike-toothed crop divider. Then, a simulation test was conducted to obtain the contact force between the sugarcane and the crop divider. Finally, the crop divider was optimized and integrated into the harvester, and a field harvesting test was carried out to verify the working performance of the crop divider. This study was expected to provide a reference for the design of crop dividers and a theoretical basis for the analysis of the lifting process.