Guest Editorial Special Issue on Emerging Topics on Development and Learning

This special issue will encompass state-of-the-art research on emerging topics related to development and learning in natural and artificial systems. The primary focus of this special issue is to explore the facets of development and learning from a multidisciplinary perspective by convening researchers from the fields of computer science, robotics, psychology, and developmental studies. We invited researchers to share knowledge and research on how humans and animals develop sensing, reasoning, and actions, and how to exploit robots as research tools to test models of development and learning. We expected the submitted contributions to emphasize the interaction with social and physical environments and how cognitive and developmental capabilities can be transferred to computing systems and robotics. This approach is in harmony with the dual objectives of comprehending human and animal development while leveraging this understanding to enhance future intelligent technologies, particularly for robots that will engage in close interactions with humans.