Drones: From World War II to today
Drones: From World War II to today
The origins and diversification of unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, from early military models to modern consumer-level devices.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Transcript
Pilotless aircraft are known by several names, among them: unmanned aerial vehicles (or UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft (or RPVs). More commonly, these craft are called drones.
Drones fly with no human on board. Drones may be piloted remotely, or follow a pre-programmed course. They have been used by the military since World War II, whereas civilian use of drones blossomed in the early 21st century.
At the end of World War II, drones were used as targets. Here, the US Navy launches light, radio-controlled drones in the Pacific, for artillery practice.
Without crew, drones can be far lighter than traditional aircraft. They need no systems for life-support or pilot safety. Thus, military drones can be remarkably efficient, offering substantially greater range and endurance than manned aircraft doing the same work.
Drones changed as navigation, computing, and flight control systems improved. In the early 1980s, military drones matured as surveillance tools. Military drones such as the American MQ-1 Predator and the MQ-9 Reaper provided valuable overhead views of enemy positions. Some could “point” with lasers, to guide human pilots to important targets. Others carried electronic transmitters that jammed enemy communication. By 1990, military drones also carried heavy weapons, such as anti-tank missiles.
Drones evolved into lighter craft, too. Small, hand-launched military drones extended the vision of ground combat units beyond their front lines. Even smaller mass-produced drones, the size of small birds were in development by 2015.
Drone applications outside the military also emerged in the early 21st Century, serving private businesses, the public sector, and hobbyists. These drones relied on horizontally oriented propellers for lift, piloted by the user on the ground, and powered by rechargeable batteries.
Drones may survey weather and other environmental conditions, such as this water sampling drone does. They can film dramatic events from the air. Drones are valuable in remote or dangerous areas, such as in this volcano in Vanuatu, where they follow explorers literally to the edge of a “lava lake.”
In a more everyday application, public officials may use drones to flush birds and other animals from sensitive areas, such as airports. Drones can perform precise crop dusting and crop surveys and also can provide wireless internet and telephone service.
The use of drones by law enforcement has created strong interest in the technology, as well as some controversy. Many people agree that drones can help police departments spot traffic law violators, and watch dangerous criminals. Yet there is worry that police departments and government agencies could abuse drones by unnecessarily tracking the activities of law-abiding citizens.
Meanwhile, drones continue to evolve. Hobbyists now enjoy simple drones that they may buy at a retail store. Drones fill the spectrum from household toys to deadly weapons of war.
Drones fly with no human on board. Drones may be piloted remotely, or follow a pre-programmed course. They have been used by the military since World War II, whereas civilian use of drones blossomed in the early 21st century.
At the end of World War II, drones were used as targets. Here, the US Navy launches light, radio-controlled drones in the Pacific, for artillery practice.
Without crew, drones can be far lighter than traditional aircraft. They need no systems for life-support or pilot safety. Thus, military drones can be remarkably efficient, offering substantially greater range and endurance than manned aircraft doing the same work.
Drones changed as navigation, computing, and flight control systems improved. In the early 1980s, military drones matured as surveillance tools. Military drones such as the American MQ-1 Predator and the MQ-9 Reaper provided valuable overhead views of enemy positions. Some could “point” with lasers, to guide human pilots to important targets. Others carried electronic transmitters that jammed enemy communication. By 1990, military drones also carried heavy weapons, such as anti-tank missiles.
Drones evolved into lighter craft, too. Small, hand-launched military drones extended the vision of ground combat units beyond their front lines. Even smaller mass-produced drones, the size of small birds were in development by 2015.
Drone applications outside the military also emerged in the early 21st Century, serving private businesses, the public sector, and hobbyists. These drones relied on horizontally oriented propellers for lift, piloted by the user on the ground, and powered by rechargeable batteries.
Drones may survey weather and other environmental conditions, such as this water sampling drone does. They can film dramatic events from the air. Drones are valuable in remote or dangerous areas, such as in this volcano in Vanuatu, where they follow explorers literally to the edge of a “lava lake.”
In a more everyday application, public officials may use drones to flush birds and other animals from sensitive areas, such as airports. Drones can perform precise crop dusting and crop surveys and also can provide wireless internet and telephone service.
The use of drones by law enforcement has created strong interest in the technology, as well as some controversy. Many people agree that drones can help police departments spot traffic law violators, and watch dangerous criminals. Yet there is worry that police departments and government agencies could abuse drones by unnecessarily tracking the activities of law-abiding citizens.
Meanwhile, drones continue to evolve. Hobbyists now enjoy simple drones that they may buy at a retail store. Drones fill the spectrum from household toys to deadly weapons of war.