Virtual special issue on intelligent unmanned aerial systems for monitoring, surveillance and communication

Unmanned aerial systems (UASs) is a term that can be used to describe aerial drones, flying robots or airships. Their use is rapidly expanding in numerous domains, such as environmental monitoring, surveillance, search and rescue operations, communication, parcel delivery and aerial photography. For example, in surveillance applications, aerial platforms are equipped with sensors such as day/night single- and multi-spectra cameras, lidars and radars. They monitor ground objects of interest, such as humans, animals, vehicles, landmarks and disaster areas. Communication applications of UASs include support of cellular networks, data collection and mobile edge computing. For these applications, the efficient autonomous navigation and placement of UASs, especially in GPS-denied or GPS-degraded operational environments, are critical issues. Advanced methods of navigation and deployment play an important role in achieving the reliable, robust, secure and cost-effective functioning of UAS networks. Implementation of artificial intelligence / machine learning algorithms contributes to UAS autonomy.

This special issue will focus on new ideas, approaches and developments in the field of deployment and operation of UASs for surveillance and communication applications.

Topics covered:

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• UAS-assisted data collection
• Surveillance of ground targets and areas using UASs
• Environmental monitoring by UASs
• Reactive and proactive deployment of UASs in cellular communication networks
• UAS-assisted mobile edge computing
• Deployment and control of mobile aerial sensor networks
• Coverage control of UASs
• Indoor/outdoor autonomous UAS navigation and path planning
• AI/ML-enhanced navigation algorithms
• UAS collaboration with ground or marine vehicles

Important deadlines:

Submission deadline: 31 March 2023

Submission instructions:

Please read the Guide for Authors before submitting. All articles should be submitted online; please select VSI: Intelligent unmanned aerial systems on submission.

Guest Editors: