Introduction

The presence of robotics and artificial intelligence in our daily lives has been increasing steadily and relentlessly since the rise of digital technology. Robotic systems now function as extensions of human beings, enhancing and parallelizing our ability to perform complex, difficult and mundane tasks. We design mobile robots, whether on the ground, underwater or in the air, to act as our sensors and tools, multiplying our effectiveness and extending our reach to remote locations on Earth and beyond. As we attempt to further explore, observe, build and maintain the world around us, we embed autonomy in these systems, giving them the ability to interpret sensory information and follow through with their assigned tasks without explicit human intervention.