Unmanned Traffic Management Systems

Dear Colleagues,

Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) describes a new traffic management ecosystem that will safely coordinate low-altitude drone operations. Unlike Air Traffic Management (ATM), UTM relies on sharing information via digital interfaces and highly automated distributed systems to manage drone operations. This represents a huge shift in airspace management but is a key enabler for drone operators, authorities and the businesses relying on drone services. The main challenge is to create the technologies, procedures and services for a resilient, scalable and sustainable UTM that can integrate with the current aviation ecosystem.

This Special Issue aims at collecting new developments, methodologies, best practices and innovations in Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM). We welcome submissions that provide the most recent advancements on all aspects of UTM, including, but not limited to:

Suggested themes and article types for submissions:

• Airspace Management (inc. design, modelling and optimisation);
• Automated Services (inc. authorisation, flight planning, coordination and flow management, conformance);
• Drone Navigation, Surveillance and Communication (inc. performance-based approaches);
• Strategic and Tactical Mitigation Services;
• Data and Information Management (inc. storage, exchange/sharing and visualisation);
• Risk, Safety and Regulation.

Dr. Aaron Mcfadyen
Dr. Luis Mejias
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Drones 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 2600 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.