In the last decade, new advancements in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)
technology have led to more efficient and superior vehicle classes of
all shapes and sizes, with a focus on small-size frames. An enabling
technology has emerged for the cooperation of large numbers of UAVs,
regardless of the underlying control strategies, which consists of a
set of efficient communication methods whose QoS guarantees can
support ''bandwidth-hungry'' and ''delay-intolerant
''applications. Literature, however, still lacks a coordinated
approach towards a unified networking vision in the dynamic
environments of UAV networks, and the solutions presented so far only
partially fulfill these communication needs. Moreover, the already
developed instances of Flying and Mobile Ad-Hoc Networks (FANET/MANET)
alone lack adaptability and flexibility features that are desirable
when network nodes are fast flying and controllable devices.

Thus, this special issue focuses on the challenges of UAV networking,
addressing innovative solutions to defining an integrated vision on
UAV network environments. Distributed control, self-* capabilities and
bio-inspired approaches could become enabling technologies for the
next generation of networks of flying robots.

Prospected authors are invited to submit their original contributions,
surveys and case studies that address the world of UAV networks.

A non-exhaustive list of topics can be found in the following:
* Self-* Capabilities for UAV Networks
* Bio-Inspired approaches for UAV Networks
* Topology and Formation Control for UAV Networks
* UAV Connectivity Maintenance in Highly Mobile Environments
* Models and Algorithms for Control of UAV Communication Networks
* UAV QoS Control
* UAV QoC over QoS
* Networked Global Behaviors Estimation and Networked Control Optimization for
UAVs
* Distributed Estimation for UAV Networks
* Distributed Networked UAVs Control Systems
* Information Reliability on UAV Networks
* UAV Networks Survivability and Reliability
* Dedicated MAC Protocols for UAVs
* Wireless Mesh and 802.11s for UAVs
* Multicast on UAV Networks
* Content Delivery in UAV Networks
* Software-Defined-Network Approaches for UAV Networks
* Networking Simulation/Emulation for UAV environments
* Testbed Results for UAV Networks

== Paper Submission ==

Elsevier DCN, fully open accessed by ScienceDirect, publishes
rigorously peer- reviewed and high quality original articles and
authoritative reviews. Only original and unpublished research papers
will be considered in this special issue. Authors should follow the
"Elsevier Digital Communications and Networks (DCN)" manuscript format
described in the Information for Authors at DCN journal website
(http://www.journals.elsevier.com/digital-communications-and-networks/).

Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy to the "Elsevier
DCN" on-line manuscript system via http://ees.elsevier.com/dcan/
according to the following timetable and choose the article type as
"SI: Theory and Applications of UAV Networks".

* Submission deadline : 15 Oct. 2016
* First Review Notification: 16 Jan. 2017
* Revision Due: 1 March 2017
* Final Review Decision: 1 May 2017

Guest Editors:

* Carlos Tavares Calafate, Technical University of Valencia (UPV), Spain,
(calafate@disca.upv.es)
* Enrico Natalizio, UTC, France, (enrico.natalizio@hds.utc.fr)
* Evsen Yanmaz (eyanmaz@lakeside-labs.com)
* Nicola Roberto Zema, UTC, France, (nicola.zema@hds.utc.fr)

For any queries, contact: Enrico Natalizio (enrico.natalizio@hds.utc.fr)