Single and Multi-UAS-Based Remote Sensing and Data Fusion

Dear Colleagues,

Unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) currently represent a powerful tool for a large variety of civil and military remote sensing applications, being highly versatile, easy to deploy, and capable of quickly covering wide areas. In this respect, significant advancements are being made in two technological directions. On the one hand, the miniaturization of sensing systems is fostering the installation of multi-sensor architectures including not only  passive optical sensors, but also active instruments such as radars and LIDARs (especially exploiting the solid-state technology), even on board small platforms. On the other hand, many researchers are investigating the potential of using formations or swarms of cooperative vehicles to improve efficiency and performance with respect to single UAS operations. For both single and multi-UAS based concepts, data fusion represents a key algorithmic paradigm to unleash the full potential of multi-sensor applications. Indeed, data fusion plays a critical role not only concerning mission payloads, but also in the framework of real-time navigation and control, as well as trajectory/attitude reconstruction.

Hence, this Special Issue welcomes original research contributions and state-of-the-art reviews from academia and industry regarding innovative technologies and algorithms for remote sensing applications by single or multiple UASs. Contributions are welcomed highlighting the role of data fusion to augment performance with respect to single-sensor systems for both remote sensing and navigation purposes. The Special Issue topics include but are not limited to:

• Cameras, LIDARs, magnetic sensors, radars, and other sensors for single and multi-UAS based remote sensing;
• Original sensing concepts for active and passive UAS-based remote sensing;
• Design, Integration, and Calibration of Innovative Multi-sensor-based architectures for UAS-based remote sensing;
• Fusion of multi-source UAS remote sensing data;
• Multi-sensor fusion for navigation and trajectory/attitude reconstruction;
• Distributed sensing and data fusion;
• Mission-oriented path planning, guidance, navigation, and control for single and multi-UAS architectures;
• Data fusion for enhanced situational awareness.

Prof. Dr. Giancarmine Fasano
Prof. Dr. Roberto Opromolla
Guest Editors

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