What it is: A drone is a flying robot. A person on the ground controls it with a remote. Or, newer drones fly on their own with AI.
Who it’s for: Anyone new to drones
Best if: You’ve seen drones on TV or at a wedding and want to know more
Skip if: You’re a drone pilot
A drone is a flying machine with no person inside. Old-school planes need a pilot in the seat. Drones don’t. They fly on remote control or on their own.
Types of drones
- Toy drones. Small, cheap. You control them with a phone or controller.
- Camera drones. Fly around and take videos. Popular brands: DJI, Skydio.
- Delivery drones. Amazon and Zipline drop packages from the sky.
- Farm drones. Fly over fields to check crops, spray water, or spot problems.
- Military drones. Much bigger. Used by armies for surveillance or strikes.
- Racing drones. Super fast. Pilots wear goggles and race them like cars.
How AI makes drones smarter
- Follow a person without being told where to go
- Dodge trees and wires on their own
- Deliver a package to your front step by itself
- Fly in a big group (called a drone swarm)
Also called
You’ll also see the term UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle). It means the same thing as drone. Militaries and engineers say “UAV.” Everyone else says “drone.”
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