IEEE Robotics and Automation Practice (RA-P) encourages the publication of Special Collections. A proposal for a Special Collection should be submitted to the Editor-in-Chief ([email protected]), as a single self-contained PDF file, with a well-articulated unifying theme, on a topic of significant importance, that is likely to attract a significant number of excellent submissions. The proposal should include:
- a draft of the call for papers that will be used to advertise the Special Collection, including sample dates for submission, notification, and publication;
- a list of proposed Guest Editors (typically three to six), including a brief description of the relevant credentials of the proposed Guest Editors;
- a credible plan for soliciting submissions, and evidence that a significant number of high-quality papers is likely to be received;
- a partial list of of research groups, applied research groups, and practitioners from which submissions may be solicited; and
- topics of Special Collections can either be application domain areas (e.g., construction robotics, space robotics, robotics and automation in manufacturing) or functional areas (e.g., robot vision, robot motion planning, machine learning for grasp planning, automation task planning), in which robotics and automation practice is likely to be stimulated by the publication of a collection of excellent papers. Proposals are selected by the EiC, in consultation with the RA-P Senior Editorial Board.
Once a Special Collection has been selected, one of the Senior Editors is selected to work together with the Guest Editor(s) in the review and selection process. Guest Editors serve as members of the Editorial Board until the publication of the special collection. Review procedures for special collection submissions are the same as those for regular issues. The RA-P Senior Editor carries out the standard editorial functions (e.g., sending decision letters to authors, etc.). If there are not enough accepted papers to warrant a Special Collection, the papers are published individually.
