This paper explores the development of a subject called "tribotronics", the science of actively controlled tribological elements, and considers the potential of tribotronics as part of a revolutionary machine element design for the future. It presents a "state-of-the-art" assessment of some devices that can be considered "tribotronic" and are currently in common use, as well as a review of examples of recent progress in research in tribotronics. It also presents a "perspective" on the future challenges and likely developments in the subject, including the integration of tribotronics with developments in other fields of digital technology, such as Industry 4.0, the "Internet of Things (IoT)", and machine learning (ML), potentially leading to "cyber tribotronic systems". In conclusion, tribotronics will contribute significantly to transforming the design of the components and machines of the present day into cyber-physical systems in the future.

The friction coefficient of a specific material combination is often assumed to be invariant in manufacturing processes such as during the tightening of threaded fastener joints. This paper considers the impact of storage conditions on threaded fastener friction. Fasteners were stored in hot humid and sub-zero temperature conditions to study friction in the thread and under-head contacts. Four Zn-flake coatings, commonly used in the automotive industry were considered. Consequent tightening of these fasteners at room temperature revealed that storage history had a significant impact on their friction coefficients, halving under-head friction in some cases. This varied behavior was considered to be a response to coating nano-hardness and structure and differences in adsorption/absorption of water and zinc-oxide formation during storage.