IoT-Enabled UAV Networks for Secure Communication

Dear Colleagues,

The rapid advancement of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies has revolutionized numerous industries, including the field of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones. UAVs have become essential in a wide range of applications, such as surveillance, delivery systems, environmental monitoring, and search and rescue operations. By integrating IoT technologies into UAVs, a network of interconnected systems is created, allowing UAVs to communicate with other devices, sensors, and control systems in real time, thereby enhancing their operational capabilities. This IoT-enabled UAV network is proving to be transformative, particularly in terms of improving efficiency, scalability, and automation. However, as the reliance on IoT-enabled UAVs increases, significant challenges related to security and privacy emerge. UAVs operate in open, dynamic environments, often covering long distances and navigating through congested airspaces, making them susceptible to various cybersecurity threats, such as data interception, unauthorized access, and malicious attacks. Therefore, secure communication within IoT-enabled UAV networks is crucial in maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of data exchanges, ensuring safe operations, and preventing malicious activities that could disrupt services or cause damage. Research in secure communication for IoT-enabled UAV networks is essential, as these systems must not only transmit data efficiently but also be resilient against cyber threats. Key areas of focus include the development of robust encryption techniques, secure routing protocols, and real-time monitoring systems that guarantee secure communication links between UAVs, ground stations, and other IoT devices. Additionally, research is underway investigating advanced authentication methods, intrusion detection, and trust models to safeguard data integrity and privacy. The significance of this research lies in its ability to enable safe, reliable, and scalable IoT-enabled UAV networks. As UAVs become more integrated into critical infrastructure, transportation, and emergency services, ensuring secure communication becomes paramount. By addressing security concerns, this field contributes to the broader goal of achieving a fully connected, efficient, and secure IoT ecosystem that supports the growing demands of industries and enhances the quality of service delivery across various sectors.

This Special Issue will highlight new developments and methodologies, best practices, and applications in IoT-enabled UAV networks for secure communication. We welcome submissions that offer the community the most recent advancements on all aspects of reliable and secure communication and service applications of UAV networks.

For this Special Issue, we welcome manuscripts that link the following themes:

• Secure communication protocols for UAV networks;
• Distributed Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPSs);
• Privacy protection in IoT-enabled UAV networks;
• Blockchain for secure UAV communication;
• Resilient UAV communication networks;
• Real-time security management for UAV operations;
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning for UAV network security.

We look forward to receiving your original research articles and reviews.

Prof. Dr. Bing Chen
Prof. Dr. Changyan Yi
Prof. Dr. Kun Zhu
Dr. Yutao Jiao
Dr. Zhiyi Tian
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. 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.

• Internet of Things (IoT)
• unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)
• flying ad hoc networks (FANET)
• drones
• ground control station (GCS)