Intelligent Wireless IoT Networks: Enabling Next-Generation Industry 4.0, Smart Cities and Autonomous Systems

Dear Colleagues,

The rapid development of wireless communication, artificial intelligence (AI), and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies is driving intelligent wireless IoT networks as a key infrastructure for Industry 4.0, smart cities, autonomous systems, and emerging cyber–physical applications. These next-generation networks require high reliability, low latency, massive connectivity, adaptive intelligence, and efficient resource utilization under dynamic and heterogeneous environments. This Special Issue, entitled "Intelligent Wireless IoT Networks: Enabling Next-Generation Industry 4.0, Smart Cities and Autonomous Systems," aims to provide a platform for researchers and practitioners to present recent advances in intelligent wireless IoT networks, including novel architectures, enabling technologies, intelligent algorithms, and practical implementations.

The topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• AI-enabled Wireless Communication and Networking: AI and machine learning techniques for intelligent communication, network optimization, and autonomous decision-making.
• Intelligent IoT Architectures and Protocols: Scalable and adaptive architectures and protocols for next-generation IoT systems.
• Machine Learning-based Resource Optimization: Learning-driven approaches for spectrum management, resource allocation, and network optimization.
• Edge Intelligence and Distributed Computing: Edge AI, federated learning, and distributed intelligence for latency-sensitive IoT applications.
• Integrated Sensing, Communication, and Localization: Joint sensing, communication, and localization technologies for context-aware IoT systems.
• Reliable and Energy-Efficient IoT Communications: Technologies for ultra-reliable, low-latency, massive, and energy-efficient IoT connectivity.
• Security, Privacy, and Trustworthy IoT Systems: Secure communication, privacy preservation, and trustworthy intelligent IoT solutions.
• Industrial IoT and Smart Applications: Wireless IoT solutions for Industry 4.0, smart cities, autonomous systems, and cyber–physical applications.
• Experimental Platforms and Real-World Deployments: Testbeds, prototypes, and field trials for practical intelligent IoT systems.

Although existing studies have extensively investigated wireless networking, IoT architectures, and AI-based optimization separately, future intelligent IoT systems require integrated solutions that jointly consider communication, computation, sensing, intelligence, and system-level challenges. This Special Issue aims to bridge this gap by bringing together interdisciplinary advances from communication networks, machine learning, embedded systems, and cyber–physical systems communities. It will provide new insights into the design of adaptive, scalable, and reliable wireless IoT networks and accelerate the deployment of intelligent connected systems in real-world applications.

Dr. Donghui Dai
Dr. Zheng Gong
Dr. Xiaopeng Zhao
Guest Editors

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