Abstract Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly pivotal in a range of Industry 5.0 applications, including smart city data collection, environmental monitoring, and autonomous goods delivery. Their capacity to operate at variable altitudes enables flexible and efficient data gathering, making them ideal for Internet of Things (IoT) scenarios where proximity to devices can significantly enhance energy efficiency and network performance. This paper explores the optimization of UAV positioning to maximize coverage and improve energy efficiency in IoT networks, particularly in challenging environments where traditional infrastructure may be compromised, such as post-disaster scenarios. The study models the wireless communication links between ground base stations, UAVs, and end users using realistic urban channel conditions. By employing advanced optimization techniques, the proposed approach demonstrates superior coverage and energy performance compared to conventional fixed-altitude deployments. These findings provide practical insights for integrating UAV-based relays into next-generation Industry 5.0 IoT networks, advancing the development of resilient and adaptive smart infrastructures.
Saif et al. (Mon,) studied this question.