Drone Engineers

For more than 100 years unmanned aircraft have been used for military purposes, particularly when the missions could put pilots and soldiers at risk. In the 1800s, unmanned aircraft such as balloons and kites were used. For example, Austrians attacked the city of Venice in 1849 by putting bombs onto balloons that flew without pilots. The U.S. military put a camera on a kite in 1898 to take some of the first aerial reconnaissance photos during the Spanish-American War. Since then, the U.S. military and other government agencies have used unmanned aircraft systems in World War I and II, and in other wars and conflicts.

Drones were initially known as remotely piloted vehicles, or RPVs. The term "drone" came about sometime in the 1940s. Its name was inspired by the droning sound it makes, similar to that of bees.

Since the 1980s, drones have been engineered and developed for a wide range of purposes beyond military use, including agriculture, scientific research, commercial, and recreational. Radio-controlled airplanes have also become increasingly popular in the past few decades, and the development of smartphones since the 2000s has made it even easier for hobbyists and consumers to gain access to drones. Drone use is now prevalent in society, and they also are being utilized extensively in armed conflicts around the world.

As drone use continues to grow and expand, drone engineers professionals will be needed to help design and develop them.