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Optimization and Tactical Deconfliction for Drone Search-and-Rescue in Low-Altitude Airspace: A Systematic Literature Review

Review of 44 drone-SAR studies found sophisticated swarm-routing methods but a major reality gap: about 86% relied solely on idealised simulation, commonly omitting communications failure, sensor uncertainty and separation from crewed aircraft.

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  • Authors: Joel Samu, Chuyang Yang and Kush R. Poddar

  • Publication date: 3 August 2026

Why it matters:
The paper challenges the assumption that efficient simulated coverage equates to an operationally usable drone system. Search planning must account for helicopters, multiple drone teams, communications loss, navigation error, sensor uncertainty and changing airspace priorities.

Operational implications:

  • Drone coverage plans require both pre-flight and dynamic airspace deconfliction.

  • Crewed rescue aircraft must retain clearly defined priority and right-of-way arrangements.

  • Loss of communications, GNSS degradation and incomplete sensor coverage need explicit contingencies.

  • Search managers should not assign theoretical coverage or POD based on simulation results alone.

  • Multi-drone deployments require a coordinating function, not simply additional pilots.

Transferability:
Applicable wherever several UAVs—or UAVs and crewed aircraft—operate within the same search. Requirements must be adapted to national aviation rules, terrain, communications and command arrangements.

Limitations:
Although described as systematic, the review included only English-language studies from 2022–2026. Most underlying evidence consisted of simulation rather than field operations; approximately 86% of the reviewed models lacked physical validation. This limits conclusions about real search effectiveness.

Training sections informed:

  • UAV resource selection and tasking

  • Airspace coordination

  • Search-area segmentation

  • Coverage and POD assumptions

  • Communications contingencies

  • Search Operations and progress monitoring

  • Multi-agency command and decision logging

Training decision: Amend — UAV training should explicitly cover mixed-airspace deconfliction, communications failure and the distinction between simulated coverage and operationally verified search effectiveness.

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