Guest Editor(s)
Dr. Wali Ullah Khan
Email: waliullahkhan30@gmail.com
Affiliation: SnT, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
Homepage:
Research Interests: resource optimization for integrated terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks
Dr. Syed Tariq Shah
Email: syed.shah@essex.ac.uk
Affiliation: School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, University of Essex, Colchester, United Kingdom
Homepage:
Research Interests: 5G/6G and beyond wireless networks, AI-enabled wireless communications, Open RAN, non-terrestrial networks, reconfigurable intelligent surfaces, RF energy harvesting, resource optimization and intelligent networking
Summary
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are emerging as a key component of 6G and beyond networks, providing flexible aerial connectivity, rapid coverage extension, sensing, data collection, and edge intelligence. Their integration with terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks creates new opportunities for resilient, low-latency, and context-aware services, while also introducing challenges in mobility, energy efficiency, interference, security, spectrum use, and real-time resource management.
This Special Issue aims to gather recent advances in communication, sensing, artificial intelligence, and edge computing for UAV-enabled future wireless systems. It will cover theoretical foundations, algorithms, architectures, prototypes, and experimental studies that improve the performance, autonomy, reliability, and sustainability of UAV-assisted networks. Particular interest is given to AI-native control and optimization, integrated sensing and communication, edge intelligence, UAV-assisted IoT, terrestrial/NTN integration, reconfigurable intelligent surfaces, physical-layer security, semantic communications, localization, and energy-aware networking.
Suggested themes include:
- UAV trajectory and resource optimization;
- multi-UAV coordination and swarm networking;
- AI/ML and reinforcement learning for UAV communications;
- UAV-enabled ISAC;
- edge computing and federated learning;
- secure and privacy-preserving UAV networks;
- RIS-assisted UAV systems;
- UAV integration with LEO/HAPS/6G NTN;
- green communications;
- channel modeling;
- testbeds for emerging UAV-enabled services.
Keywords
UAVs, 6G technologies, artificial intelligence, integrated sensing and communication, edge intelligence, non-terrestrial networks, security and privacy, AI-native control and optimization, UAV applications in healthcare systems, industrial Internet of Things, and automations.
Login
Register
Submit a Paper
Propose a Special lssue