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Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Drone Design
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Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Drone Design

A topical collection in Designs (ISSN 2411-9660). This collection belongs to the section "Vehicle Engineering Design".

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Editors

Dr. Jinchao Chen

E-Mail Website
Collection Editor
School of Computer Science, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710060, China
Interests: simulation; verification; decision-making and intelligent control of unmanned aerial vehicles
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Jun Feng

E-Mail Website
Collection Editor
School of Cyber Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
Interests: big data; machine learning; security and privacy protection; artificial intelligence security; privacy computing; deep learning
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Ruxandra Botez

E-Mail Website
Collection Editor
LARCASE-Aeronautical Research Laboratory in Active Control, Avionics and Aeroservoelasticity, Ecole de Technologie Superieure, 1100 Notre Dame West, Montreal, QC H3C1K3, Canada
Interests: aerodynamic; aeroelasticity; aeroservoelasticity; vibration; modeling and control technologies for deformable wings; active flight control
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Topical Collection Information

Dear Colleagues,

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, have rapidly evolved over the past decade. Initially developed for various applications, their use has expanded significantly into sectors including agriculture, logistics, surveillance, and entertainment. This growth reflects the increasing interest in leveraging drone technology to enhance operational efficiency and reduce costs.

The technological advancement of drones has been remarkable, yet several challenges remain. Key areas needing further development include improving battery life, enhancing autonomous navigation capabilities, and ensuring regulatory compliance. Additionally, addressing issues such as data security and the integration of drones into existing airspace systems is crucial for their widespread adoption. Researchers and designers are encouraged to explore innovative solutions to these complex problems.

This Topical Collection aims to provide a platform for researchers, practitioners, and industry leaders to share their insights and advancements in drone design. We invite contributions that explore new design methodologies, technological innovations, and case studies that demonstrate the practical applications of drone technology.

Dr. Jinchao Chen
Dr. Jun Feng
Prof. Dr. Ruxandra Botez
Collection 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 collection 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. Designs is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 1600 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.

Keywords

  • unmanned aerial vehicles
  • drone technology
  • autonomous navigation
  • design methodologies
  • industry applications

Published Papers (3 papers)

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2025

Jump to: 2024

24 pages, 1426 KiB  
Article
A User Journey: Development of Drone-Based Medication Delivery—Meeting Developers and Co-Developers’ Expectations
by Anne Lehmann, Ivonne Kalter, Patrick Jahn and Franziska Fink
Designs 2025, 9(2), 27; https://doi.org/10.3390/designs9020027 - 27 Feb 2025
Viewed by 523
Abstract
This study builds on initial ADApp research that identified the factors that influence the intention to use a pharmacy drone app for urgent medication delivery. While previous studies and theories have predominantly focused on user acceptance alone, the present qualitative study introduced a [...] Read more.
This study builds on initial ADApp research that identified the factors that influence the intention to use a pharmacy drone app for urgent medication delivery. While previous studies and theories have predominantly focused on user acceptance alone, the present qualitative study introduced a holistic model that integrates user acceptance theories as well as user-centered design principles and technology features. It focused on the user journey to derive core statements from the development of a drone-based application using a qualitative theory synthesis approach (study 1), and explored the perceived participatory collaboration between developers (software and drone developers) and co-developers (core group participants) using final tandem discussions and a qualitative content analysis method (study 2). Study 1 resulted in the identification of eight categories that serve as technical working goals for future participatory technology development. Study 2 identified five critical factors that provide insight into the unique challenges and goals of collaborative development. Both studies contribute to a better understanding of the essential factors that lead to successful participatory processes between developers and co-developers aimed at increasing usability and intention to use. Based on these findings, an integrated model is presented to support participatory design strategies in healthcare technology development. Full article
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34 pages, 18944 KiB  
Article
Design and Basic Aerodynamic Analysis of a Drone-Suspended Transport Container for Safe Biological Sample Transport
by Ján Vachálek, Marek Habara and Daniel Nyeky
Designs 2025, 9(1), 20; https://doi.org/10.3390/designs9010020 - 10 Feb 2025
Viewed by 798
Abstract
The article addresses the issue of selecting the initial shape for a drone’s suspended transport container and its impact on the final aerodynamic properties during the flight, specifically aerodynamic drag, based on the simulated pressure differences generated by the suspended container. The motivation [...] Read more.
The article addresses the issue of selecting the initial shape for a drone’s suspended transport container and its impact on the final aerodynamic properties during the flight, specifically aerodynamic drag, based on the simulated pressure differences generated by the suspended container. The motivation arose from the project ITMS2014+:313011 ATR9 titled ‘Research and Development of the Applicability of Autonomous Flying Vehicles in the Fight Against the COVID-19 Pandemic’. The project deals with the transport of biological samples from hospitals to specialized laboratories. These samples, which could be contaminated, necessitated the development of a specialized container meeting all safety criteria. Besides predefined parameters such as the maximum weight of the container, transport speed, dimensions of the internal standardized module for transporting hospital samples, and compliance with required IP (Ingress Protection) and IK (Impact Protection) standards, many other challenges related to the final design solution of the transport container had to be addressed. One such challenge was the fundamental question of what shape the transport container should have, which significantly influences the overall design and construction of the transport module. We attempted to solve this question responsibly and professionally and thoroughly substantiate our results with appropriate simulations in selected simulation software. The outcome was as expected, but it was necessary to adequately justify and support the choice of the shape of the transport container in the context of the project’s resolution. The results are universal and can be applied to other designs for shapes of transport containers in the future or by other researchers working on similar projects. Full article
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2024

Jump to: 2025

26 pages, 9352 KiB  
Article
Adaptive Path Planning for Multi-UAV Systems in Dynamic 3D Environments: A Multi-Objective Framework
by Gregorius Airlangga, Ronald Sukwadi, Widodo Widjaja Basuki, Lai Ferry Sugianto, Oskar Ika Adi Nugroho, Yoel Kristian and Radyan Rahmananta
Designs 2024, 8(6), 136; https://doi.org/10.3390/designs8060136 - 20 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1541
Abstract
This study evaluates and compares the computational performance and practical applicability of advanced path planning algorithms for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in dynamic and obstacle-rich environments. The Adaptive Multi-Objective Path Planning (AMOPP) framework is highlighted for its ability to balance multiple objectives, including [...] Read more.
This study evaluates and compares the computational performance and practical applicability of advanced path planning algorithms for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in dynamic and obstacle-rich environments. The Adaptive Multi-Objective Path Planning (AMOPP) framework is highlighted for its ability to balance multiple objectives, including path length, smoothness, collision avoidance, and real-time responsiveness. Through experimental analysis, AMOPP demonstrates superior performance, with a 15% reduction in path length compared to A*, achieving an average path length of 450 m. Its angular deviation of 8.0° ensures smoother trajectories than traditional methods like Genetic Algorithm and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). Moreover, AMOPP achieves a 0% collision rate across all simulations, surpassing heuristic-based methods like Cuckoo Search and Bee Colony Optimization, which exhibit higher collision rates. Real-time responsiveness is another key strength of AMOPP, with an average re-planning time of 0.75 s, significantly outperforming A* and RRT*. The computational complexities of each algorithm are analyzed, with AMOPP exhibiting a time complexity of O(k·n) and a space complexity of O(n), ensuring scalability and efficiency for large-scale operations. The study also presents a comprehensive qualitative and quantitative comparison of 14 algorithms using 3D visualizations, highlighting their strengths, limitations, and suitable application scenarios. By integrating weighted optimization with penalty-based strategies and spline interpolation, AMOPP provides a robust solution for UAV path planning, particularly in scenarios requiring smooth navigation and adaptive re-planning. This work establishes AMOPP as a promising framework for real-time, efficient, and safe UAV operations in dynamic environments. Full article
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