Wireless communications, networking, and positioning with unmanned aerial vehicles [Guest Editorial]

Abstract

Enabled by the advances in computing, communication, and sensing as well as the miniaturization of devices, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) such as balloons, quadcopters, and gliders have been receiving significant attention in the research community. Indeed, UAVs have become an integral component in several critical applications such as border surveillance, disaster response, traffic monitoring, and the transportation of goods, medicine, and first aid. More recently, new possibilities of UAVs for commercial applications and public service have emerged, with the potential to dramatically change the way in which we lead our daily lives. For instance, in 2013, Amazon announced a research and development initiative focused on its next-generation Prime Air delivery service. The goal of this service is to deliver packages into customers' hands in 30 minutes or less using small UAVs. The past couple of years have been pivotal in bringing UAV research to fruition as corroborated by an unprecedented proliferation of personal drones, such as the Phantom and Inspire from DJI, the AR and Bebop from Parrot, and the Solo from 3D Robotics.