Drones 2026: Mapping the Knowledge
Submission Deadline Extended
Due to several requests from prospective participants, we are pleased to announce that the submission deadline has been extended to 4 September 2026.
We look forward to receiving your contributions!
the chairs
Dear Colleagues,
We are pleased to welcome you to Drones 2026: Mapping the Knowledge, which will take place in Barcelona, Spain, from 11 to 13 November 2026. This conference aims to bring together researchers, industry professionals, and experts from around the world to share the latest advancements, exchange ideas, and foster collaborations in the field of the design, development, and application of drone technologies.
Over the course of three days, we will explore a wide range of novel and attractive topics distributed through different thematic sessions, including keynote lectures, oral presentations, and poster sessions. Our program is designed to provide engaging networking for discussing cutting-edge research, emerging challenges, and future directions in the field.
We encourage you to actively participate by presenting your work, engaging in discussions, and networking with fellow attendees. Beyond the scientific sessions, Barcelona offers a vibrant setting to connect with colleagues while enjoying its rich culture, history, and cuisine.
We look forward to an inspiring and productive conference and to welcoming you to Drones 2026: Mapping the Knowledge.
Sincerely,
Prof. Dr. Diego González-Aguilera
Prof. Dr. Pablo Rodríguez-Gonzálvez
Drones 2026 Chairs
Meet the Event Chairs
If you want to stay updated with the latest information, or if you want to connect with your fellow researchers before, during, and after the event, then be sure to join the Drones 2026: Mapping the Knowledge LinkedIn Event.
See you there!
Follow the conversation on X with #Drones2026!
Ms. Raquel Sellés
Dr. Laura Pérez-Martín
Ms. Shae Turner
Mr. Gonzalo Moya
Dr. Ana Sanchís
Conference Email: drones2026@mdpi.com
Important Dates
- Abstract submission deadlineSep 04, 2026
- Abstract acceptance notificationSep 25, 2026
- Registration end dateOct 30, 2026
- Early bird registration deadlineOct 02, 2026
- Regular registration deadlineOct 24, 2026
- Late registration deadlineOct 30, 2026
Meet Our Speakers
Dr. Dimitris Perikleous
ACCELIGENCE, Cyprus;
Dr. Dimitris Perikleous is a mechanical and aeronautical engineer specializing in the design, development, and mission-oriented deployment of aerial robotic systems. He serves as Project Manager on several EU-funded research and innovation projects, overseeing project execution, coordination of technical activities, and preparation of research outcomes. <br><br>His research spans the full UAV development lifecycle: conceptual and detailed design, aerodynamic simulation, system integration, and experimental validation through direct field operations and UAV piloting. <br><br>Dr. Perikleous holds an Integrated Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics from the University of Patras and a PhD with Industrial Mention (Distinction Cum Laude) from the University of Salamanca. His doctoral thesis, entitled "Multipurpose Aerial Drones for Wildfire and Geophysical Applications: Design, Deployment, and Systematic Review," addressed the end-to-end development of multipurpose UAV platforms for wildfire monitoring and geophysical sensing — from conceptual design through to field validation in operational environments.
Mr. Marc Beltran
EU Drone Port, Spain;
Marc Beltran is the founder and CEO of EU Drone Port, and Director of its Certification Entity. Based in Barcelona, EU Drone Port is an EASA Notified Body accredited by ENAC under ISO/IEC 17065, and one of only two entities in the European Union authorised to issue UAS Class Identification Labels (C0 to C6) under Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945. In practice, this means Marc's team decides which drones can legally carry a class label and enter the EU and EFTA market. <br><br>An aerospace engineer by training, Marc holds a BSc and MSc in Aeronautical Engineering from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), specialising in air navigation, and completed part of his Master's at the Technical University of Lisbon with a focus on unmanned aircraft. His engineering career spans two continents: he worked at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Braunschweig on a joint DLR-NASA research project, and at the Canadian Centre for Aerospace Research in Vancouver. He has founded several drone ventures, including one designing aircraft for civil earth-observation missions. <br><br>Under his leadership, EU Drone Port operates across three regulatory tracks: issuing EU-Type Examination Certificates to manufacturers worldwide, securing flight authorisations for commercial operators (STS-01/02, SORA, PDRAs, LUC), and training drone pilots as an Official Designated Training Entity with certificates valid in 31 countries. His team has trained more than 50,000 pilots. <br><br>Marc has delivered keynotes at TED, Harvard University, the Burj Khalifa, the German Ministry of Transport, the European Space Agency Congress, Mobile World Congress, the Commercial UAV Expo, and most recently the 10th World UAV Conference in Shenzhen. His work has been featured by the BBC, The Guardian, Gulf News, and La Vanguardia. He is a recipient of the Drone Innovation Award for a humanitarian landmine-detection drone.
Ms. Beatriz Rodríguez Romero
Advanced Center for Aerospace Technologies / Centro Avanzado de Tecnologías Aeroespaciales (CATEC), Spain;
Beatriz Rodríguez Romero holds a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Cádiz, specializing in Computer Engineering. During her final year, she studied Computer Science at Wroclaw University of Science and Technology (Poland) as part of an international exchange program. <br><br>She started her professional career in software development for the aerospace industry, where she spent more than seven years developing C++ applications used by Airbus to support the validation of the manufacturing process of military aircraft, including the A400M, C295, and MRTT. <br><br>Since May 2023, she has been working as a Senior Software Developer at the Advanced Center for Aerospace Technologies (CATEC). She is currently the Technical Lead of a project focused on detecting maritime oil spills from HAPS platforms using onboard artificial intelligence and image processing to generate high-resolution mosaics. She also works on the ISSEC Fuerteventura project, where she develops software for the integration and control of advanced payloads on unmanned aerial systems (UAS), mission management, and data transmission to a geoinformation center. <br><br>Her main areas of interest include software development for aerospace systems, sensor integration, computer vision, and onboard artificial intelligence.
- S1. Drone Design and Development
- S2. Networks and Communications
- S3. Guidance, Navigation, and Control
- S4. Artificial Intelligence Applications for Drones
- S5. Drones in Agriculture and Forestry
Sponsors and Partners
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Sponsoring
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If you have any questions or wish to discuss any further options, please do not hesitate to contact the Conference Secretariat. Connect with us today to secure your spot and maximize your impact.
Society Collaboration
Are you part of a society and interested in Drones 2026? Contact us at drones2026@mdpi.com to discuss a media partnership where your society members can access a 20% discount on all registration fees!