In recent years, the development of marine robots has significantly influenced ocean exploration and exploitation. With the help of marine robots, people can undertake various tasks in ocean environments that are dangerous for humans to stay in. The potential for what marine robots can achieve is much more. Marine robots can sense and autonomously adapt to the complicated ocean environment and to work more efficiently and intelligently. By integrating recent scientific and technological advancement, including biomimetic technology, new materials, and advanced artificial intelligence methods, marine robots could be more powerful in exploring the ocean environment and enabling a new range of tasks, e.g. to study marine life in their natural habitats. To fully tap the marine robots’ potential, it is crucial to increase the level of autonomy and intelligence. However, the hydrodynamics around marine robot as well as the complex and uncertain natural environment bring great challenges. While extensive research has been done on autonomous and intelligent marine robots, significant new joint efforts are needed to accelerate the progress from laboratory conditions to the real world.

This special issue aims to promote marine robots closer to the broad real-world application by presenting up-to-date results and novel technologies that have practical potential, where design, perception, learning, control, and coordination as intertwined and complimentary aspects will be discussed in depth. By presenting the achievement and future opportunities in this multidisciplinary research area that crosscuts robotics, perception, biomimetics, materials, and AI, this special issue will have a great impact on the robotics and automation research community.