Unmanned aerial vehicle

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or unmanned aircraft system (UAS), commonly known as an aerial drone or simply drone, is an aircraft with no human pilot, crew, or passengers on board. It is controlled remotely or can fly on its own using pre-programmed paths.

UAVs were created a long time ago mainly for special jobs that were too hard or risky for people. As technology improved, drones became easier and cheaper to use, and now they have many roles beyond those early uses.

Today, drones are used in many helpful ways. They help take aerial photography, watch over forests and rivers, support precision agriculture, help with weather observation and environmental monitoring, assist police, inspect big structures like bridges and towers, deliver items, and even race for fun in drone racing.

One important challenge with drones is making sure they follow privacy laws so people’s personal spaces and information stay safe.

Terminology

Many words describe aircraft that fly without anyone on board. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is a powered aircraft with no human pilot. It uses special forces to stay in the air and can fly by itself or be controlled from far away. People often call UAVs "drones," whether they are used by the military or for everyday tasks.

UAVs are part of an unmanned aircraft system (UAS). This system includes the aircraft, a person controlling it on the ground, and the equipment that sends information between them. This helps make flying these aircraft safer and better. Other names for these systems are unmanned aircraft vehicle system (UAVS) and remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS).

Classification types

UAVs, or drones, can be grouped in many ways, such as by size, weight, or the height they can fly. For example, some drones are small enough to hold in your hand, while others can fly higher than any airplane. They can also be remote-controlled by a person or fly on their own.

Drones can run on different power sources like batteries, fuel, or even solar panels. Each type has its own benefits, like quieter noise or longer flight times. Some drones can stay in the air for a long time by using energy from the sun!

History

Main article: History of unmanned aerial vehicles

The history of drones began in the 1800s. In 1849, Austrian forces used balloons to try to attack Venice. These early attempts did not work well. In 1903, a Spanish engineer created a radio-controlled system to test airships safely.

The development of drones grew faster in the 1900s. They were mainly used to help train military personnel. Early drones were like practice targets. During World War II, drones were used more, including by Nazi Germany and Italy. After the war, drones kept changing, with the United States and other countries making new types for watching areas and battles.

In the 2000s, drones became more advanced and were used more. The United States and other countries used them in conflicts, and companies like DJI made drones for people to buy. Today, drones are used in many ways, from military work to space exploration, like the Ingenuity helicopter on Mars.

Design

Crewed and uncrewed aircraft share many similar parts, but UAVs do not have a cockpit or life-support systems. This lets them be smaller and lighter, especially when carrying lightweight things like cameras. Military UAVs can carry weapons but are usually lighter than aircraft made for people.

Small civilian UAVs, often called drones, can be made from lighter materials because they don’t need life-critical systems. The quadcopter design, with four rotating blades, is popular for small drones. UAVs are controlled from far away using cameras and digital commands, or they can fly on their own with autopilot software.

UAVs can be built in many shapes since they don’t need a cockpit or a design friendly for humans. Common shapes include flying wings and blended wing bodies, which are light and hard to detect. Larger UAVs often have a clear body with a tail for stability. For flying straight up or hovering, quadcopters are common for small drones, while larger ones may use many rotors for safety.

Traditional engines are still used for long-distance flights, but electric power is more common for shorter missions. Small drones usually use lithium-polymer batteries, while some larger ones use hydrogen fuel cells for longer flight times. Flapping-wing drones, inspired by birds and insects, are used for quiet, stealthy missions.

Main article: Short-life engine

Computer control systems

UAV computing has improved a lot. It started with simple controls and now uses advanced computers. Modern UAV control systems, called flight controllers, have a main processor, a backup processor, and sensors. These sensors help the drone know where it is.

UAVs use sensors to understand their surroundings. They also have motors and propellers to move. Special software helps them fly automatically, follow routes, and avoid things in their way. Some drones can do tasks on their own, like taking off, landing, or flying to a specific place.

Performance considerations

UAVs can be programmed to do special moves and land on different places. Some can even rest on tall walls and move to better spots for talking.

UAVs do not have pilots, so they can fly as long as they have power. Small engines and special cooling help them stay in the air longer. New technologies like hydrogen fuel cells and solar power could let UAVs fly for hours or even weeks. Some solar-powered UAVs can fly so high they almost reach space, helping with watching the weather and other jobs. Engineers work to make UAVs stronger and able to keep flying even if some parts stop working.

Main article: PHASA-35
Main articles: Resilience engineering, Fault tolerance

Applications

Main article: List of unmanned aerial vehicle applications

Drones can fly far from people to help with work, save money, and keep places safe. They can deliver packages, like Amazon Prime Air, and bring important health supplies.

UAVs have many uses in different jobs. These include recreation, helping during disaster relief, studying archeology, protecting biodiversity and habitat, aiding law enforcement, and even in terrorism.

Warfare

Main articles: Drone warfare, Unmanned combat aerial vehicle, Loitering munition, One-way attack drone, Unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance aerial vehicle, Miniature UAV, Micro air vehicle, and Target drone

Many countries use armed UAVs for military jobs. Top makers include Baykar, General Atomics, and Elbit Systems.

Tiny micro UAV drones can fly without being noticed. These are used for watching and practice.

Since the Russo-Ukrainian war began, both Ukraine and Russia have made new drones quickly.

The 2026 Iran war showed that many countries needed better ways to stop drones after attacks on places like airports.

Civil applications

The market for civilian drones is led by Chinese companies. DJI had a big share of this market. By 2025, Chinese companies held most of the world market. The US stopped some of these drones, but they are still very popular.

By May 2021, over eight hundred thousand UAVs were registered in the US, with many for business and fun. People are buying drones with more features.

Civil drones are used a lot by police and military because they are cheap and useful. Since 2018, the Israeli army has used DJI drones for watching. Chinese and American police also use them.

Entertainment

See also: Drone art and Drone racing

Drones are used at night for shows that are safer and better for the environment than fireworks. They can also race, with or without special glasses.

Aerial photography

See also: Drone journalism

Drones are great for taking pictures from the air. Small drones let one person fly and take pictures. Bigger drones have a pilot and a camera person. Drones can reach dangerous or far places.

Environmental monitoring

UAVs help watch the environment by taking detailed pictures and data. This helps study nature, farms, rivers, buildings, and even find minerals. They can also watch for landslides and study wildlands and animals.

Geological hazards

UAVs help study dangers like landslides. They can fly to hard-to-reach places and take pictures that show cracks and changes in the land.

Mineral exploration

UAVs help find new minerals by using special tools to look at the ground and air.

Agriculture, forestry and environmental studies

Main article: Agricultural drone

Drones help farms work better. They can watch crops, spread seeds, and fight fires. Drones also help watch animals like birds and seals.

Law enforcement

Main article: Use of UAVs in law enforcement

Police use drones to find lost people and watch traffic.

Humanitarian aid

See also: Delivery drone

Drones help in emergencies by bringing food, medicine, and supplies to far places or after disasters.

Safety and security

UAVs, or drones, can create safety issues in the sky. They might bump into other airplanes by accident. People might also use them to cause trouble near airports or fires.

For example, drones caused problems at Gatwick Airport in December 2018. Flying drones near fires in California can stop firefighters from doing their work.

To keep everyone safe, many countries have rules about how and where drones can fly. In the United States, most drones must be registered. In China, new rules in 2026 require drones to have special IDs and be monitored in real time. These rules help make sure drones don’t cause accidents or security problems.

Main article: Regulation of unmanned aerial vehicles