Author Guidelines
The Journal of Autonomous Vehicles, Drones, and Intelligent Mobility accepts submissions that explore the design, operation, regulation, and societal impact of autonomous vehicles, drones, and intelligent mobility systems. Manuscripts must reflect a commitment to intellectual rigour, clarity, and ethical research practice. Submissions should be original, clearly written, and relevant to the journal’s core themes.
All manuscripts must be submitted electronically through the journal’s online submission system. Submissions that do not meet the journal’s formatting or ethical standards may be returned to authors before peer review.
Article Types
Research Articles: Full-length empirical or theoretical studies that integrate concepts, methods, or questions from multiple disciplines relevant to autonomous systems and intelligent mobility. These may include qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods approaches.
Analytical Essays: Conceptual or reflective pieces that address major questions or frameworks in autonomous transport, unmanned systems, or mobility technologies.
Review Articles: Structured surveys of literature across multiple domains that critically evaluate developments, debates, or knowledge gaps in autonomous and intelligent mobility.
Case Studies: Descriptive or analytical accounts of autonomous vehicle, drone, or intelligent mobility projects that illustrate integration across technical, operational, or policy domains.
Commentary and Perspective: Shorter contributions offering timely insight or critical reflection on current developments in autonomous and unmanned systems.
Policy Analyses: Empirical or theoretical evaluations of how autonomous mobility research informs public policy, regulation, or infrastructure design.
Educational and Curricular Reports: Descriptions of teaching models, curriculum development, or training initiatives designed to support skills in autonomous systems and intelligent mobility.
Letters to the Editor: Scholarly responses to articles published in the journal or short reflections on emerging topics.
General Formatting
All manuscripts must be submitted as Microsoft Word files using Times New Roman, 12-point font, double spacing, and 2.5 cm margins. Pages must be numbered.
Title Page
The title page must include:
- Full manuscript title
- Names and institutional affiliations of all authors
- Corresponding author’s contact details
- Conflict of interest disclosures
- Funding acknowledgements (if applicable)
- Ethical approval statements (if applicable)
- A short author biography (50–100 words) may be included as a separate file if requested.
Abstract
All submissions must include an abstract of 250 to 300 words summarising the scope, objectives, key methods or arguments, and major findings or insights. It must be suitable for readers outside the author’s primary discipline but with an interest in autonomous and intelligent mobility systems.
Keywords
Authors should provide four to six keywords that reflect the thematic and disciplinary dimensions of the manuscript. Keywords assist with indexing and retrieval.
Main Text
The structure of the main text may vary depending on article type. For research manuscripts, the following structure is recommended:
- Introduction: Define the problem or question, contextualise it within the literature, and describe its relevance to autonomous vehicles, drones, or intelligent mobility.
- Methods: Describe the methodological approach, including data sources, analytical strategies, or theoretical frameworks. Clearly identify contributions from different disciplines or perspectives.
- Results or Argument: Present the major findings, conceptual development, or theoretical contribution. Use figures, tables, or diagrams where appropriate.
- Discussion: Interpret the significance of the findings or arguments in relation to other work. Address integration, limitations, and potential applications.
- Conclusion: Summarise the key contributions and suggest future directions or implications.
Other article types may follow flexible structures, provided the content is coherent, scholarly, and clearly presented.
Tables and Figures
All tables and figures must be clearly labelled, numbered, and cited in the text. Figures should be submitted in high-resolution formats (JPEG, PNG, or TIFF). Captions should be concise and informative. Ensure all visual material is relevant and appropriately integrated into the manuscript.
Supplementary materials such as datasets, visual media, or appendices should be submitted as separate files with appropriate description.
References
All references cited in the text must be listed at the end of the manuscript. The journal accepts citations in APA style. Authors must ensure accuracy and consistency in referencing.
Ethical Considerations
Manuscripts must adhere to ethical standards appropriate to the research design and topic. Submissions involving human participants, field trials, or sensitive operational data must include a statement regarding ethics approval or exemption.
For case studies, collaborative projects, or industry-based research, authors should describe the processes used to ensure informed consent, data responsibility, and equitable participation. When applicable, manuscripts should address safety protocols, privacy considerations, and secure handling of operational or location-based data.
Authors must ensure that all participants’ identities are protected and that any personal or institutional data are anonymised where required.
Conflict of Interest
All authors must declare any financial, institutional, or professional relationships that could influence the content or interpretation of their work. Conflict of interest statements should be included on the title page and, where applicable, within the body of the manuscript.
Funding Disclosure
Authors must acknowledge all sources of financial support for the research. If the work received no specific funding, this should be stated clearly in the manuscript.
Submission Requirements
Manuscripts must be submitted through the journal’s online system. A complete submission includes:
- Main manuscript
- Title page
- Tables and figures (if separate)
- Supplementary materials (if applicable)
- Cover letter outlining the manuscript’s originality and relevance to the journal
Submissions must be original and not under review by another publication at the time of submission.
Peer Review
All manuscripts are subject to double-blind peer review. Submissions are evaluated by reviewers with expertise in the relevant technical, operational, and policy areas of autonomous and intelligent mobility. Reviewers assess the manuscript’s clarity, originality, integration of perspectives, scholarly contribution, and alignment with the journal’s scope.
Authors may be asked to revise their work based on reviewer feedback and editorial guidance.
Article Processing Charge (APC)
An Article Processing Charge will be levied upon acceptance of the manuscript. Full details will be provided to the corresponding author following final editorial approval.
Copyright and Licensing
Authors retain copyright over their published work. By submitting a manuscript, authors grant the journal the right to publish and distribute the article under an open-access model. Proper attribution is required when reusing any material from the journal.
Editorial Support
The editorial team is available to answer queries related to scope, formatting, ethics, or manuscript preparation. Authors are encouraged to contact the journal office for clarification or guidance at any stage of the process.
