Research progress and outlook on launch technologies for small- and medium-sized UAVs

Research Progress on UAV Power Systems

In recent years, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology has been developing rapidly. As a new economic growth point, it is being deeply integrated into various sectors of the economy and society. Meanwhile, different power systems have been developed for UAVs, and they are applied in different scenarios according to their characteristics. This paper reviews the four existing UAV power systems, listing their features, advantages, and disadvantages, explaining their working principles, and presenting some application scenarios. Among them, fuel power systems have high power and long endurance, suitable for long-range missions; electric systems, in contrast, make UAVs more flexible, efficient, and low-emission, but are only suitable for small-scale operations. Hybrid systems and hydrogen energy systems are the two major future development trends, combining the advantages of the former two, but with the drawbacks of complex structure, immature technology, and requiring further development. This paper aims to popularize knowledge about UAV power systems and hopes to promote the advancement of this technology.

The Evolving Landscape of Unmanned Aircraft Systems: A Review of Current Challenges and Future Scenarios

Today (mid-2026) UASs are a mature technology, quickly expanding, with two distinct tracks: a civil/commercial ecosystem that is moving from hobbyist and line-of-sight ops toward scaled commercial BVLOS and logistics, and an advanced industrial ecosystem that is rapidly adopting increasingly autonomous, networked, and innovative drone types (from tactical ISR to loitering, delivery, and swarm concepts). Regulators (FAA, EASA, and national authorities) are actively updating rules to enable safe BVLOS and integrated operations; at the same time, demand for counter-UAS capabilities is surging. This study presents an extensive review of UAV technologies, outlining their applications in both civilian and industrial domains. It further analyzes principal use cases alongside the related technical and operational challenges. Moreover, prospective research directions are proposed with the aim of advancing the technology framework. The insights provided are intended to offer meaningful guidance and inspiration for researchers in this area. The paper also emphasizes the existing framework while discussing potential future developments.

AERONAUTICAL DRONES, PART 1: CURRENT STATUS AND TRENDS

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly referred to as drones, have become an essential component of modern aerospace systems due to their fast expansion across civil, commercial and military applications. Advances in lightweight materials, miniaturized electronics, navigation systems and manufacturing technologies have enabled the development of increasingly capable platforms ranging from small multirotor drones to high-altitude long- endurance aircrafts. This paper reviews the current status of the global drone sector by examining market evolution, industrial development and the principal regulatory frameworks governing UAV operations. A technical classification of drone configurations is presented, including fixed-wing, rotary-wing, hybrid VTOL and mission-oriented categories, highlighting their operational characteristics and engineering trade-offs. Representative civil and military platforms are comparatively analyzed in terms of range, payload, endurance, cost and mission capability in order to illustrate current technological trends. Attention is also given to structural materials and manufacturing technologies employed in modern UAV design (composite materials, lightweight alloys, additive manufacturing and modular construction concepts). The analysis shows that progress in materials engineering and airframe design, together with the diversification of operational requirements, is driving the development of increasingly efficient, specialized and adaptable unmanned aircraft. These trends confirm the importance of UAV technologies within the evolving aerospace industry.

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.

Research on Structural Improvements of UAVs under Extreme Weather Conditions

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.