Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Drones)

technology · aviation · robotics · future

No pilot needed. Drones are aircraft that fly without any person sitting inside them. Instead, they're either controlled by someone using a remote controller from the ground, or they fly all by themselves using computers.

Born in the military. The first drones were created during the 1900s for missions that were too boring, dirty, or dangerous for human pilots. Today, most armies around the world use them.

Thousands of jobs. Drones now do amazing things like take aerial photos and videos, spray crops to help them grow better, spot forest fires, check bridges and power lines, and even deliver packages to people's homes.

Getting cheaper fast. As drone technology improved and prices dropped, way more people and businesses started using them instead of just the military.

Racing and fun. Drones aren't just practical, they're entertaining too. People race drones at high speeds and use them for special effects in movies and TV shows.