Autonomous and Connected UAVs/Drones

The significant expansion of connected aerial vehicles – Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)/drones – is widened in various areas because of high mobility, dynamic configuration and low maintenance cost of UAVs. The researchers have not fully explored the various research issues in aerial network despite of rapidly increased usage of UAVs in several areas over the last few years. In this context, this chapter presents a comprehensive review on autonomous and connected aerial vehicles such as UAVs/drones in Internet of Things (IoT) environments focusing on research issues-based studies. The issues-based techniques in the aerial environment have been categorically described focusing on their limitations and technical contributions while considering various research metrics. The techniques suggested by researchers have been categorized based on five various issues existing in the research area of connected aerial vehicles. These five issues are named as data collection, computing, routing, security and energy efficiency. Specifically, the significance of autonomous and connected aerial vehicles in IoT environments is highlighted. Following the issues-based taxonomy, a technique-based qualitative review is carried out on various research challenges raised in aerial environments while focusing on main functional components, weaknesses and strengths. The open research challenges related to connected aerial vehicles: UAVs and drones are identified as future research directions in the area.