This paper analyzes the research situation, cooperation relationship, research hotspots, research frontiers and trends in the field of domestic and international civil UAV using literature metrology method and visualization technology. The research is based on CiteSpace knowledge map and the datas are retrieved from the civil uav papers in the Web of Science and the CNKI database from 2010 to 2020. The results show that the research hotspots mainly focus on UAV system technology, communication and network, privacy and security, application and other aspects; the research frontier trend is mainly the deep integration of the new generation of information technology and civil UAV, and the research and application in more fields, ect. This paper has information reference for domestic civil UAV research.