The Smart Home concept integrates smart applications in the daily human life. In recent years, Smart Homes have increased security and management challenges due to the low capacity of small sensors, multiple connectivity to the Internet for efficient applications (use of big data and cloud computing), and heterogeneity of home systems, which require inexpert users to configure devices and micro-systems. This article presents current security and management approaches in Smart Homes and shows the good practices imposed on the market for developing secure systems in houses. At last, we propose future solutions for efficiently and securely managing the Smart Homes.

It is anticipated that the backbone of Smart Cities concerning automation and networking will be formed by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in the imminent future. Therefore, our research focuses on developing advanced microcontrollers embedded with Artificial Intelligence techniques for self-governing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. The main objective of this research was to enable full automation for the execution of flight paths with non-trivial sequences that will be performed with centimetre-level accuracy. Also, by utilising dynamic flight plans and trajectories, we aim to secure autonomous aviation based on norms, with control loops and fundamental constraints. More specifically, we evolved a novel algorithmic technique for trajectory optimisation, which deploys a modification to the A* search algorithm, implemented by the Haversine formula and enhances accuracy using Vincenty's formula. Furthermore, realistic values for trajectory optimisation and obstacle avoidance were found through the implementation of a simulative investigation. The outcomes of our methodology indicate that the safety constraints associated with the integration of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in the urban environment can be significantly mitigated. Consequently, their effectiveness will be increased in realising their diverse operations and capabilities.

Sixth-generation networks and vehicular Ad hoc networks advancement brought us to the cusp of a new era. Autonomous Vehicles with a plethora of advanced applications require a substantially enhanced vehicle-to-everything communication network. The infrastructure should efficiently support hyper-fast, ultra-reliable, and low-latency massive data exchange. Roadside units were initially exploited as a promising communication solution to overcome this challenge. However, the challenging integration with the infrastructure led to the investigation of additional solutions. Unmanned aerial vehicles are one of the most dominant assistive solutions due to their inherent advantage of mobility. Moreover, air-to-air and ground-to-air networks are more efficient than ground-to-ground. Nevertheless, it is a prerequisite to leverage the potential of unmanned aerial vehicles to attain nationwide Vehicle-to-Everything connectivity. Therefore, we focused our research orientation on developing a strategy to optimize the network’s coverage within the intelligent transportation systems framework. In particular, we have deployed an innovative algorithmic technique that constructs Voronoi diagrams using circles. Besides, we applied the poison point process to determine the optimum locations of the transceivers’ establishment. Simulation results illustrate full network coverage for the tested area after the required iterations. Also, time complexity evaluation proved the simplicity of the proposed algorithm.

The common use of smart devices encourages potential attackers to violate privacy. Sometimes taking control of one device allows the attacker to obtain secret data (such as password for home WiFi network) or tools to carry out DoS attack, and this, despite the limited resources of such devices. One of the solutions for gaining users’ confidence is to assign responsibility for detecting attacks to the service provider, particularly Internet Service Provider (ISP). It is possible, since ISP often provides also the Home Gateway (HG)—device that has multiple roles: residential router, entertainment center, and home’s “command and control” center which allows to manage the Smart Home entities. The ISP may extend this set of functionalities by implementing an intrusion detection software in HG provisioned to their customers. In this article we propose an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) distributed between devices residing at user’s and ISP’s premises. The Home Gateway IDS and the ISP’s IDS constitute together a distributed structure which allows spreading computations related to attacks against Smart Home ecosystem. On the other hand, it also leverages the operator’s knowledge of security incidents across the customer premises. This distributed structure is supported by the ISP’s expert system that helps to detect distributed attacks i.e., using botnets.