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Review Open access Jul 2026

AERONAUTICAL DRONES, PART 2: CURRENT APPLICATIONS AND TRENDS

This paper examines the current applications and emerging development trends of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), with emphasis on the technological and operational evolution of contemporary drone systems across civil and military domains. The study reviews the expanding use of UAVs in precision agriculture, infrastructure inspection, logistics, emergency response, urban air mobility, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), electronic warfare and tactical operations, highlighting the operational advantages offered by unmanned platforms in diverse mission environments. The principal challenges affecting future UAV deployment are also analyzed, including battery endurance, cybersecurity, communication reliability, regulatory compliance, airspace integration and environmental constraints. Attention is given also to the increasing role of artificial intelligence, autonomous mission execution, swarm coordination, advanced propulsion technologies and digital airspace management in shaping the next generation of unmanned aircraft systems. Current research directions indicate a transition from individually operated drones toward interconnected, intelligent and highly autonomous aerial systems capable of cooperative decision- making and large-scale deployment. The analysis shows that future progress in unmanned aviation will depend not only on improvements in aircraft performance but also on advances in systems integration, secure communications, resilient autonomy and regulatory frameworks that enable the safe and efficient operation of increasingly complex UAV ecosystems.

Andrei Bencze · 0 citations
Conference Open access 2026

Exploration on the Stability of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles against Thermal Airflow Interference in Fire Scenes

In view of the problems such as unstable attitude, hovering deviation, and reduced operational accuracy of fire-fighting drones caused by the superposition of multi-source disturbances such as high-temperature thermal plume and strong turbulence at the fire scene, this paper systematically reviews the relevant technologies for drones to resist thermal airflow interference. First, the causes of hot air flow at the fire scene were identified, and then the specific impact of hot air flow on the flight stability of the unmanned aerial vehicle was analyzed. Subsequently, key technologies such as disturbance perception, dynamic modeling, anti-interference control, and path planning were systematically sorted out, with a focus on comparing the practical application effects of mainstream algorithms such as PID control, robust control, and model predictive control in the complex environment of the fire scene. Finally, summarize the shortcomings of current research in terms of real-time disturbance perception accuracy and adaptability to extreme high-temperature environments, and look forward to future technological development directions. The study found that the combination of disturbance observation + feedforward compensation +PID/ robust control has the best anti-interference effect and can provide reliable theoretical support and technical guarantee for the stable operation of fire-fighting drones in extreme fire scenes.

Hao-Yu Yang · 0 citations
Review Jul 2026

A Review of UAV Support Technologies for Low-Altitude Airspace Operation and Management

In recent years, with the low-altitude economy developing rapidly, the operation and management of low-altitude airspace has gradually become a hot topic. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) constitute a fundamental component of the low-altitude airspace ecosystem, significantly influencing its structure and functionality. The technological advancement of UAVs has fundamentally transformed the operational paradigm for low-altitude airspace management. This paper presents a comprehensive review of UAV-supported technologies in the context of low-altitude airspace operations and management. It systematically analyzes key technologies and applications of UAVs in areas such as airspace capacity and safety assessment, trajectory planning, and standardized flight management. Drawing from kinematic analysis and traffic flow theory, UAV density control and collision risk prediction offer quantitative insights into airspace capacity evaluation. Additionally, probabilistic analysis and simulation techniques enhance the accuracy and efficiency of safety assessments. In trajectory planning, multi-objective optimization algorithms tailored to operational scenarios—such as logistics delivery and agricultural operations—have significantly improved the utilization of airspace resources. Concurrently, collision avoidance techniques leveraging graph search, numerical optimization, and machine learning ensure flight safety in complex environments. Standardized flight management relies on pilot qualification review, airworthiness certification, and planning standardization, while discussing airspace segmentation strategies based on geofencing and intelligent control systems. Future developments in UAV-supported technologies are expected to trend toward higher precision, intelligence, and regulatory integration. By incorporating cutting-edge fields such as deep reinforcement learning and digital integration, these technologies are poised to further enhance the efficiency and safety of low-altitude airspace management, thereby providing robust technical support for the sustainable growth of the low-altitude economy.

Lei Gong, Zhenxia Ma, Qin Luo · 0 citations
Aug 2026

Structural Design and Optimization of Heavy-Duty

With the strategic expansion of low-altitude economies, there is a growing demand for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with enhanced structural reliability and performance. This study investigates the integrated design and precision manufacturing of a heavy-lift quadrotor UAV, focusing on developing a system capable of sustaining substantial payloads. The UAV features an innovative locking mechanism at the base of its arms, which facilitates easy disassembly—this design simplifies maintenance while improving operational flexibility. Structural integrity was evaluated using the Static Structural module in Ansys Workbench under three operational conditions: no-load, full-load, and extreme-load. Results demonstrate that the airframe meets strength requirements under all conditions, though localized nonlinear deformations were observed in the arms under extreme loads. In response to these findings, the Response Surface Optimization methodology was systematically applied to refine the UAV arm’s design parameters, with the dual goals of minimizing structural mass and reducing displacement. Experimental results show that under the most demanding operating condition, the maximum displacement was reduced by 43.6% compared to the pre-optimization state, while the arm’s weight was reduced by 20.2%. These findings provide critical insights for advancing UAV design, particularly in agricultural and logistics applications that require high payload capacity and robustness.

Kang-Hui Huang, Guiying Li, Zhigang Yu et al. · 0 citations
Review Open access Aug 2026

AtmosphericIcing Mitigation on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Electrothermal Strategies and Functional Materials for Operational Safety Under Known Icing Conditions

Atmospheric icing is one of the most critical meteorological hazards for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), whose operation under adverse conditions—high latitudes, elevated altitudes, long-endurance missions without pilot intervention—particularly exposes them to ice accumulation on aerodynamic surfaces and propellers. Unlike manned aviation, where this phenomenon has been extensively studied and regulated, a significant knowledge gap exists in the UAV domain that limits the development of effective protection systems adapted to energy constraints. This article provides an integrative review—conducted with a systematic search strategy following PRISMA reporting guidelines—of atmospheric ice formation mechanisms, their specific effects on UAV propellers, and the two most promising mitigation approaches: electrothermal modelling for the optimisation of electric heating systems and the development of functional surface materials including superhydrophobic coatings (SHC); composites with conductive nanofillers (graphene, carbon nanotubes); and piezoelectric actuators. The analysis demonstrates that hybrid systems combining passive and active strategies managed by intelligent control represent the most viable solution for extending UAV operational envelopes under known icing conditions, with a projected reduction in anti-icing system energy consumption of at least 40% relative to conventional continuous heating. This estimate is based on the most conservative published evidence: pulsed electrothermal de-icing achieves 40–60% savings versus continuous anti-icingSHC-assisted hybrid heating reduces IPS power by more than 80% on static aerofoils; and rotary-wing pulsed systems reduce mean consumption by 60–75% relative to continuous operation. Key research gaps are identified, and a prioritised future research agenda is proposed to support the development of certifiable anti-icing systems for rotary-wing UAV platforms.

R. Avella, Camila A. González, Paula N. López · 0 citations
Jul 2026

Discussion of Key Technologies on Application of High-Payload Ducted Fan Aircraft

Against the backdrop of accelerating urbanization and diversifying social demands, aerospace technology has extensively permeated numerous fields such as logistics and transportation, emergency and disaster relief, environmental monitoring, and urban transportation. Its application scope is expanding from traditional reconnaissance and surveillance to complex scenarios like material transportation, manned operations, and precision maintenance. Within this trend, high-payload, vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), and high-safety aircraft have become key equipment for enhancing operational efficiency across multiple sectors. Among these, high-payload ducted fan aircraft, with their high safety, excellent low-speed performance, and outstanding VTOL capability, demonstrate unique advantages in tall building fire suppression, power lines and towers maintenance, and personal flight experiences. This paper first outlines the diversified application prospects of aerospace technology, then focuses on high-payload ducted fan aircraft. It discusses the technical requirements specific to such aircraft in the aforementioned key scenarios and analyzes the critical technical bottlenecks hindering their broader application, along with potential viable solutions.

Bin Lou, Zhuoyuan Li, Yuansong Zhang et al. · 0 citations