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State-of-the-Art Advances and Emerging Challenges in UAV Routing Optimization: A Comprehensive Review
Review Article  ·  Published: 31 July 2025
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ICCK Transactions on Systems Safety and Reliability
Volume 1, Issue 1, 2025: 43-62
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State-of-the-Art Advances and Emerging Challenges in UAV Routing Optimization: A Comprehensive Review

by
Kaiye Gao Kaiye Gao 1 ORCID
Jun Qu Jun Qu 2
Guodong Zhang Guodong Zhang 3
Wen Zhang Wen Zhang 4
Bin Liu Bin Liu 5 ORCID
Yuan Gao Yuan Gao 6 ORCID
Di Wu Di Wu 7 * ORCID
1 School of Economics & Management, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
2 School of Management, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
3 Erdaojiang Housing Acquisition Administration Center, Tonghua, China
4 School of Economics & Management, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
5 Department of Management Science, Strathclyde University, Glasgow, United Kingdom
6 School of Management, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
7 School of Management Science and Engineering, Central University of Finance and Economics, Beijing 100081, China
* Corresponding Author: Di Wu, [email protected]
Volume 1, Issue 1
Volume 1, Issue 1 2025
Received: 30 May 2025 Accepted: 18 July 2025 Published: 31 July 2025 CrossMark
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DOI: 10.62762/TSSR.2025.423261
ARK: ark:/57805/tssr.2025.423261

Article Information

Published in ICCK Transactions on Systems Safety and Reliability
Volume/Issue Volume 1, Issue 1, 2025
Pages 43-62
Cited by 4 (Crossref) 1 (Scopus)

Abstract

This literature review offers an in-depth overview of recent advances in routing optimization for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), a field central to improving the performance, reliability, and flexibility of UAV systems. The review is organized into five categories: (1) multi-objective mission planning, (2) algorithmic design and optimization techniques, (3) energy efficiency and resource allocation, (4) communication protocols and network management, and (5) context-specific applications and environmental adaptability. The review highlights methodological progress and algorithmic approaches developed to balance competing demands such as mission effectiveness, energy use, and communication stability. Emphasis is placed on techniques that aim to extend UAV network longevity through effective energy strategies and on the creation of robust communication frameworks to support dependable data exchange. The study also considers how routing methods are being adapted to accommodate dynamic operational environments and varying external conditions. By drawing together insights from these areas, the review provides a comprehensive perspective on the current state of UAV routing optimization and identifies pressing challenges and directions for future research, with a focus on developing more adaptive and intelligent routing solutions.

Graphical Abstract

State-of-the-Art Advances and Emerging Challenges in UAV Routing Optimization: A Comprehensive Review

Keywords

unmanned aerial vehicle routing optimization multi-objective mission planning energy efficiency communication protocols environmental adaptation

Data Availability Statement

Data will be made available on request.

Funding

The work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant 72001027, the Postdoctoral Foundation of China under Grant 2021M693331, and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Ethical Approval and Consent to Participate

Not applicable.

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Cite This Article

APA Style
Gao, K., Qu, J., Zhang, G., Zhang, W., Liu, B., Gao, Y., & Wu, D. (2025). State-of-the-Art Advances and Emerging Challenges in UAV Routing Optimization: A Comprehensive Review. ICCK Transactions on Systems Safety and Reliability, 1(1), 43–62. https://doi.org/10.62762/TSSR.2025.423261
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TY  - JOUR
AU  - Gao, Kaiye
AU  - Qu, Jun
AU  - Zhang, Guodong
AU  - Zhang, Wen
AU  - Liu, Bin
AU  - Gao, Yuan
AU  - Wu, Di
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/07/31
TI  - State-of-the-Art Advances and Emerging Challenges in UAV Routing Optimization: A Comprehensive Review
JO  - ICCK Transactions on Systems Safety and Reliability
T2  - ICCK Transactions on Systems Safety and Reliability
JF  - ICCK Transactions on Systems Safety and Reliability
VL  - 1
IS  - 1
SP  - 43
EP  - 62
DO  - 10.62762/TSSR.2025.423261
UR  - https://www.icck.org/article/abs/TSSR.2025.423261
KW  - unmanned aerial vehicle
KW  - routing optimization
KW  - multi-objective mission planning
KW  - energy efficiency
KW  - communication protocols
KW  - environmental adaptation
AB  - This literature review offers an in-depth overview of recent advances in routing optimization for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), a field central to improving the performance, reliability, and flexibility of UAV systems. The review is organized into five categories: (1) multi-objective mission planning, (2) algorithmic design and optimization techniques, (3) energy efficiency and resource allocation, (4) communication protocols and network management, and (5) context-specific applications and environmental adaptability. The review highlights methodological progress and algorithmic approaches developed to balance competing demands such as mission effectiveness, energy use, and communication stability. Emphasis is placed on techniques that aim to extend UAV network longevity through effective energy strategies and on the creation of robust communication frameworks to support dependable data exchange. The study also considers how routing methods are being adapted to accommodate dynamic operational environments and varying external conditions. By drawing together insights from these areas, the review provides a comprehensive perspective on the current state of UAV routing optimization and identifies pressing challenges and directions for future research, with a focus on developing more adaptive and intelligent routing solutions.
SN  - 3069-1087
PB  - Institute of Central Computation and Knowledge
LA  - English
ER  -
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@article{Gao2025Stateofthe,
  author = {Kaiye Gao and Jun Qu and Guodong Zhang and Wen Zhang and Bin Liu and Yuan Gao and Di Wu},
  title = {State-of-the-Art Advances and Emerging Challenges in UAV Routing Optimization: A Comprehensive Review},
  journal = {ICCK Transactions on Systems Safety and Reliability},
  year = {2025},
  volume = {1},
  number = {1},
  pages = {43-62},
  doi = {10.62762/TSSR.2025.423261},
  url = {https://www.icck.org/article/abs/TSSR.2025.423261},
  abstract = {This literature review offers an in-depth overview of recent advances in routing optimization for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), a field central to improving the performance, reliability, and flexibility of UAV systems. The review is organized into five categories: (1) multi-objective mission planning, (2) algorithmic design and optimization techniques, (3) energy efficiency and resource allocation, (4) communication protocols and network management, and (5) context-specific applications and environmental adaptability. The review highlights methodological progress and algorithmic approaches developed to balance competing demands such as mission effectiveness, energy use, and communication stability. Emphasis is placed on techniques that aim to extend UAV network longevity through effective energy strategies and on the creation of robust communication frameworks to support dependable data exchange. The study also considers how routing methods are being adapted to accommodate dynamic operational environments and varying external conditions. By drawing together insights from these areas, the review provides a comprehensive perspective on the current state of UAV routing optimization and identifies pressing challenges and directions for future research, with a focus on developing more adaptive and intelligent routing solutions.},
  keywords = {unmanned aerial vehicle, routing optimization, multi-objective mission planning, energy efficiency, communication protocols, environmental adaptation},
  issn = {3069-1087},
  publisher = {Institute of Central Computation and Knowledge}
}

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