Facets of security and safety problems and paradigms for smart aerial mobility and intelligent logistics

Abstract The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for smart and speedy logistics is still relatively nascent compared to traditional delivery methods. However, it is witnessing sporadic and steady growth due to booming demands, technological advancement, and regulatory support. The intelligence and integrity of UAV systems depend largely on the underlying cognitive and cybersecurity models, which serve as both eyes and brains to perceive and respond to the myriad of scenarios around them. Smart mobility and intelligent logistic ecosystems (SMiLE) are complex and advanced technological networks which are exposed to several issues. The incorporation of UAVs for priority logistics, thereby extending the coverage and capacity of SMiLE, further heightens these vulnerabilities and questions its security, safety, and sustainability. This review scrutinizes the significant security disruptions, smartness dynamics, and sundry developments for the sustainable deployment of UAVs as an aerial logistics‐based vehicle. Using the PRISMA‐SPIDER methodology, 157 articles were selected for quantitative analysis and 20 review articles for qualitative evaluation. Security and safety issues in UAVs cut across all the layers of logistics operations: components, communication, network architecture, navigation, supply chain etc. Expanding the capacity of SMiLE using UAV demands an intentional and incremental convergence‐based integration of an agile explainable artificial framework for reliable and safety‐conscious smart mobility, a scalable and tamperproof blockchain for multi‐factor authentication, and a zero trust cybersecurity paradigm for inclusive enterprise‐based authorization.