Unmanned aerial vehicle

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is an aircraft which lacks a onboard human pilot, using remote or autonomous systems for flight control. UAVs are often simply referred as a drone. The term drone with regards to aircraft can be traced back to the 1940s as a term to describe any aircraft with limited flexibility, in WWII these would have been aircraft used for target practice by land, sea, and air based offensive and defensive systems. Today it is used for UAVs distinctly.

A drone is a type of airplane, but it is an unmanned aircraft (or unmanned aerial vehicle) that is either remote-controlled or flies autonomously without a pilot on board. While "airplane" often refers to fixed-wing manned aircraft, the term "aircraft" is a broader category that includes drones. Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) refers to the entire system (ground equipment like controllers plus the aerial platform), and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) refers only to the aerial platform. Remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) can be used interchangeably with UAVs and is commonly used in Europe. Autonomous drones use sensors and AI/ML to operate independently to complete a mission.

Application

The "Viktor" mobile air defense system of the Ukrainian military defending against Russian drone attacks in June 2023.

German Heron TP drone of the Bundeswehr

Military

Drones have a long history in warfare. Various agencies such as the CIA, FBI, Marines, etc. have all developed unique drone programs to meet their mission objectives. Drones in the military often serve as eyes in the sky such as those used during the summer Black lives matter riots by the FBI, or those used for targeted strikes such as those in the infamous Wikileaks files where in CIA video depicted the killing of civilians and reporters overseas. Drones have been both praised and criticized in warfare, regardless their efficiency is unparalleled.

Since the beginning of the 21st century, the role of unmanned aircraft systems in modern warfare has grown at an unprecedented rate. No longer simply used for intelligence, data collection, or reconnaissance, drones are routinely used for target acquisition and to strike enemy targets with missiles and bombs. Specialist military unmanned aerial vehicles play a key role in the modern battle space. These include classics, such as the MQ-1 Predator, primarily used for intelligence gathering; the Black Hornet Nano, a micro UAV that is so small it can fit in the palm of your hand and is used by ground troops for local situational awareness; the Chinese tri-copter Scorpion, which is ideal for the stationary observation and strike role in a built-up area; and the French EADS Talarion, a twinjet long-endurance UAV designed for high-altitude surveillance.

The Russia-Ukraine War has seen many drone attacks on infrastructure, equipment, and human targets. Drone warfare is reshaping the battlefield, as cheap homemade drones are shown destroying million dollar defense equipment such as tanks. In December 2024, in a single attack, Russia launched over 100 drones at Ukraine. Following this event Ukraine launched drones at the city of Kazan in the Tatarstan region of Russia. These attack capabilities, sometimes spanning hundreds of miles demonstrate the capabilities of drones in military applications. Some well known military UAVs and respective ranges include:

• MQ-9 Reaper: Can travel up to 1,150 miles (1,850 kilometers) using satellite communication.

• RQ-4 Global Hawk: Capable of flying up to 11,500 nautical miles (21,300 kilometers) on a single mission.

• MQ-4C Triton: Has a flight range of up to 12,000 kilometers.

• Skydio X2D: Designed for short-range reconnaissance missions, with a range of up to 50 km.

• RQ-180: A stealth reconnaissance drone with a range classified, but designed for long-range missions.

• X-47B: Designed for combat demonstration missions, with a range that allows it to operate from aircraft carriers.

• United 40/Smart Eye 2: A medium-altitude, long-endurance UAV with a range of up to 1,200 kilometers.

• Zephyr UAV: Capable of flying for months continuously, offering a persistent surveillance platform with a range limited only by its operational needs.

• Orion UAS: Developed for long-endurance missions, it can carry multiple payloads and has a range of over 24,140 kilometers.

Agriculture

Many UAV makers are beginning to build for farming and agriculture. These drones can survey, pick, and plant crops, replacing the need for managing the seasonal importation of farm hands.

Residential

UAVs are used for surveying roof damage, tax assessments, and security.

Search and rescue (SAR)

UAVs such as those by Ag Eagle Aerial Systems, Inc. (NYSE:UAVS) can be equipped with thermal day and night vision to locate missing or trespassing persons. UAVs are quickly replacing helicopters in SAR activities as UAVs can often be programmed with human and face detection, magnification, duration, and live stream analysis that surpasses the capabilities of human aircraft operators.

Photography

UAVs have been used to create modern film, capture action scenes, sporting events, and to follow a target, such as a speeding motorcycle, while streaming live video. UAVs have revolutionized the film industry by replacing the need and expense for traditional helicopters for certain scenes.