Integrating Drones into the Internet of Things: A Systematic Literature Review on Security Challenges and Opportunities

The integration of drones into the Internet of Things (IoT) presents significant opportunities for enhancing efficiency, productivity, and safety across various industries. However, this integration also poses security challenges that need to be addressed. This systematic literature review (SLR) comprehensively explores the current knowledge on the integration of drones into the IoT, along with applications and the associated security issues. Following established guidelines for SLR, the study formulates research questions, develops a search protocol, selects relevant databases, and applies specific criteria for study selection. A total of twenty papers are selected for detailed analysis, providing insights into the integration process, applications of drones in different industries, and considerations related to drone security. The findings reveal that integrating drones into the IoT enhances their capabilities by enabling connectivity, communication, and collaboration with other devices. Drones find applications in agriculture, construction, energy, transportation, and logistics, contributing to efficiency, productivity, and safety improvements. However, security concerns such as data transmission, privacy, and vulnerability to cyber-attacks need to be addressed. The study concludes by providing valuable insights and recommendations for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners to implement effective security measures and ensure the widespread adoption of drones while maintaining robust security. Preprint, not peer reviewed. The literature search and review were conducted in 2023.