Intelligent Control and Optimization of Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Dear Colleagues,

Electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are a category of aircraft equipped with multiple rotors, with or without tilting capabilities. They combine the functionalities of vertical take-off and landing with the ability to fly forward at high speeds. This unique capability makes them highly versatile, enabling them to address various applications that require velocity, agility, and long-range flight performance.

This Special Issue aims to present and promote the latest advancements in intelligent control strategies, optimization methods, and system design for eVTOL UAVs. However, the inherent challenges, including dynamic transition control, aerodynamic interference, power management, and safety redundancy, necessitate innovative approaches in intelligent control algorithms and optimization techniques.

The journal Drones focuses on the design, development, applications, and policy implications of eVTOL UAV systems, emphasizing advanced technologies, including aerodynamics, control systems, and real-world applications across civilian, industrial, and military sectors.

This Special Issue will collect original research articles and review papers that provide insights into the latest advancements, challenges, and opportunities in enhancing the performance, automation, and reliability of eVTOL UAVs through intelligent control strategies and optimization techniques. It aims to bridge the gap between theoretical research and practical applications, focusing on innovations which address challenges in flight dynamics, energy efficiency, real-time decision making, and mission planning for eVTOL UAVs.

This Special Issue will welcome manuscripts that link the following themes:

• Intelligent control strategies for flight control;
• Optimization techniques in autonomous navigation and motion control;
• Fault detection and diagnosis for eVTOL

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Zongyang Lv
Prof. Dr. Qing Zhao
Dr. Hao Wei
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.

• eVTOL
• UAV
• optimal control
• intelligent control
• nonlinear control
• fault-tolerant control