Currently, drones have reached the stage of practical application, business, and social contribution from the stage of research and development. In fact, drones are now opening up a new market not only in the field of aerial photography and agricultural chemical spraying, which had traditionally been on the market, but also in the field of surveying. Furthermore, new markets are expected to be formed within several years in the field of infrastructure inspection and logistics.

Under these circumstances, research on drone application is becoming significant, along with research on drone design and control, which have been done conventionally. However, there are still only a few studies and journals focusing not only on drone development and design but also drone application. Therefore, in this special issue, we invited papers with comprehensive contents, including research focusing on drone application, and created a space to present cutting-edge research results.

By reading this special issue, we hope that readers will understand the latest information about the applications of drones and their cutting-edge technology. Furthermore, we also hope that readers will be able to proactively promote the use of drones in their own research and work, based on the information obtained from this special issue.