Next-Generation Drones for Urban Air Mobility: Advances and Innovations

A special issue of Aerospace (ISSN 2226-4310). This special issue belongs to the section "Aeronautics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 576

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Industrial Engineering (DIN), University of Bologna, 47122 Forlì, Italy
Interests: internal combustion engines; low tempearture combustions; sustainable aeronautical and space propulsion systems; rapid control prototyping; sustainable mobility; hydrogen based-solutions for aeronautics; sustainable hydrogen-based energy plants
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
CIRI Aerospace, Department of Industrial Engineering (DIN), University of Bologna, 47122 Forlì, Italy
Interests: UAV; flight mechanics; flight dynamics; rotorcraft; helicopter; autorotation; dynamics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue "Next-Generation Drones for Urban Air Mobility: Advances and Innovations" aims to showcase the latest research, advancements, and perspectives in the field of drones and its impact on the next generation of urban air mobility.

Urban air mobility (UAM) is rapidly evolving, driven by advances in next-generation drone technologies. This Special Issue aims to showcase the latest research, innovations, and emerging trends that are shaping the future of drones for UAM. As cities seek sustainable and efficient transportation solutions, drones are increasingly being explored for passenger transport, cargo delivery, and emergency response.

Key areas of focus include novel drone architectures, innovative materials, advanced hybrid and conventional propulsion systems, innovative carbon-neutral and zero-emission fuels, and AI-powered navigation and flight controls. Additionally, developments in communication networks, safety protocols, infrastructures, and autonomous flight technologies are crucial for ensuring the reliability and scalability of the proposed solutions.

By bringing together cutting-edge research and expert insights, this Special Issue will highlight the transformative potential of drones in revolutionizing urban mobility. The goal is to encourage discussions on challenges, opportunities, and the roadmap toward a fully integrated and efficient UAM ecosystem.

The scope of the Special Issue will include, but is not limited to, the following topics:

  • Overview of the present and future trends in urban air mobility.
  • Novel drone architectures and innovative materials.
  • Advanced hybrid and conventional propulsion systems for drones.
  • Carbon-neutral and zero-emission fuel technologies for drones.
  • AI-powered navigation and flight control systems.
  • Vertiports and innovative infrastructure for UAM.
  • Developments in communication networks and safety protocols.
  • Autonomous flight technologies for improved reliability and scalability.
  • Policy, regulatory, and economic aspects of drone adoption in urban air mobility.

We welcome original research articles and review articles that address any of the above topics or related areas. We look forward to receiving high-quality submissions that contribute to the advancement of the field of drones, UAM, and the aerospace industry.

Dr. Giacomo Silvagni
Dr. Daniele Fattizzo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Aerospace is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • next-generation drones
  • urban air mobility (UAM)
  • innovative materials
  • hybrid and conventional propulsion
  • carbon-neutral and zero-emission fuels
  • AI-powered navigation
  • flight control systems
  • communication networks
  • safety protocols
  • autonomous flight

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

33 pages, 4619 KiB  
Review
Urban Air Mobility Aircraft Operations in Urban Environments: A Review of Potential Safety Risks
by Chananya Charnsethikul, Jose M. Silva, Wim J. C. Verhagen and Raj Das
Aerospace 2025, 12(4), 306; https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace12040306 - 3 Apr 2025
Viewed by 407
Abstract
The expansion of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) has led to diverse aircraft designs, with piloted systems expected to evolve into remotely piloted and automated operations. Future advancements in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSs) will further improve automation capabilities, promising significant benefits to the environment [...] Read more.
The expansion of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) has led to diverse aircraft designs, with piloted systems expected to evolve into remotely piloted and automated operations. Future advancements in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSs) will further improve automation capabilities, promising significant benefits to the environment and overall efficiency of UAM aircraft. However, UAM aircraft face unique operational conditions that need to be accounted for when assessing safety risks, such as lower operating altitudes and hazards present in urban settings, thus leading to a potential increased risk of collisions with foreign objects, particularly birds and drones. This paper reviews historical safety data with an aim to better assess the potential risks of UAM aircraft. A survey was conducted to gather quantitative and qualitative insights from subject matter experts, reinforcing findings from existing studies. The results highlight the need for a comprehensive risk assessment framework to guide design improvements and regulatory strategies, ensuring safer UAM operations. Full article
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