Robotic multihop networking - [Message from the Editor-in-Chief]

Multihop networking is a new field of research for wireless mobile networks where the coverage and use of the cellular and other centralized networks can be expanded through the use of a cell¿s edgelocated nodes. These nodes simply become the relay nodes for the mobile devices outside the coverage area of the cell. The first technical issue to come out of such configuration is the additional delay encountered in relaying messages from an outside device into and from the network. However, other important issues such as security of the data to be relayed by a middle (and unknown) node and cooperation of nodes to become relay nodes are not far from the top of the list of technical problems. Resource management for both the centralized network and the individual mobile nodes also becomes an important issue.