The question of who made the first drone is more complex than it seems. Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), have evolved from crude radio-controlled experiments to sophisticated quadcopters equipped with GPS, obstacle avoidance sensors, and gimbal cameras. While modern drones like the DJI Mini 4 Pro dominate consumer markets with features such as 4K imaging and AI follow mode, their origins trace back over a century to military necessities and inventive minds pushing the boundaries of flight technology.
This article explores the historical contenders for the title of “first drone inventor,” examining early prototypes, wartime innovations, and the technological leaps that led to today’s FPV racing drones and aerial filmmaking tools. By understanding this lineage, drone enthusiasts can appreciate how foundational ideas in navigation and stabilization systems paved the way for current innovations.
The Precursors: From Kites to Radio-Controlled Flight
Before powered unmanned flight, humans experimented with uncrewed aerial devices for centuries. Ancient Chinese kites carried explosives in warfare, but these were rudimentary. The true precursors to drones emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with advancements in radio technology and aerodynamics.
Early Experiments in the 1800s
In 1849, Austrian forces reportedly used unmanned balloons filled with explosives against Venice, marking one of the first weaponized uncrewed flights. However, these were not controllable drones. The leap came with Nikola Tesla’s work on radio control. In 1898, Tesla demonstrated a radio-controlled boat at Madison Square Garden, laying the groundwork for wireless guidance systems essential to modern remote sensing.
By the early 1900s, inventors like Charles Kettering and Reginald Fessenden explored aerial applications. Fessenden’s 1911 patent for an “apparatus for controlling the flight of aerodromes” proposed gyroscopic stabilization— a concept echoed in today’s sensors and autonomous flight capabilities.
World War I: The Birth of Purpose-Built Drones
World War I accelerated drone development as nations sought ways to reduce pilot casualties in reconnaissance and bombing. This era produced the strongest candidates for the “first drone.”
Archibald Low and the Aerial Target
Often credited as the father of modern drones, British inventor Archibald Montgomery Low created the Ruston Proctor Aerial Target in 1916. Powered by a 32-horsepower engine, this biplane was radio-controlled via a ground-based transmitter operating on shortwave frequencies. Low’s team, including Harry Grindley, achieved the first powered flight of an unmanned aircraft on March 21, 1917, at Upavon, England.
Though it flew only briefly before crashing, the Aerial Target featured rudimentary radio guidance, foreshadowing FPV systems. Low’s work influenced subsequent British efforts, including the RFC CE Type A Target, a simpler radio-controlled machine.
The Kettering Bug: America’s Entry
Across the Atlantic, Charles Kettering, founder of Dayton-Wright Airplane Company, developed the Kettering Bug in 1918. This 40-foot-wingspan “aerial torpedo” used a pre-programmed gyroscope and anemometer for navigation, flying 40 miles at 50 mph before diving into its target with a 180-pound explosive.
Tested at Dayton’s McCook Field, the Bug represented a shift toward inertial guidance systems akin to modern mapping tech. Despite reliability issues like crashes due to downdrafts, it was the U.S. Army’s first attempt at a pilotless bomber, influencing interwar drone research.
Other WWI efforts included the French Saunders English Aéro-Marine Plane and Italian radio-controlled biplanes, but Low and Kettering’s designs stand out for their ambition and partial success.
Interwar and World War II Advancements
Between the wars, drones served primarily as target practice. The British de Havilland Queen Bee—a modified Tiger Moth—gave us the term “drone” in 1935, as male bees are drones. Over 16,000 were built, training anti-aircraft gunners with radio control.
World War II saw explosive growth. Germany’s V-1 buzz bomb, deployed in 1944, was a pulse-jet powered cruise missile with preset gyroscopic guidance, launching over 30,000 against London. While not recoverable, its autonomy mirrored early optical zoom targeting precursors.
The U.S. responded with the Radioplane OQ-2, a wooden target drone produced in mass quantities by Reginald Denny’s company. Over 15,000 units featured radio control and even loop-the-loop maneuvers. Actress Norma Jeane (later Marilyn Monroe) inspected these during wartime factory work.
Post-WWII, the Ryan Firebee emerged in the 1950s as a jet-powered reconnaissance drone, paving the way for Cold War UAVs like the Lockheed D-21.
The Modern Drone Revolution: From Military to Everyday Skies
The 1990s and 2000s shifted drones from military tools to commercial powerhouses, driven by miniaturization, batteries, and computing.
Military Predators and Civilian Quadcopters
The General Atomics MQ-1 Predator, introduced in 1995, brought real-time video feeds via satellite links, revolutionizing surveillance with thermal imaging. Its successor, the MQ-9 Reaper, added precision strikes.
Consumer drones exploded with DJI’s 2006 founding. The 2013 Phantom series integrated GPS-assisted flight, gimbal stabilization, and 4K cameras, enabling cinematic shots. Competitors like Autel Robotics and Parrot followed, adding features like obstacle avoidance.
Racing Drones and FPV Innovation
FPV racing drones trace to 2015 events organized by MultiGP, using lightweight frames, powerful propellers, and GoPro Hero cameras for immersive piloting. Micro drones under 250g, like those from BetaFPV, push boundaries in agility.
Accessories evolved too: High-capacity batteries, ergonomic controllers, and apps for flight planning enhance usability. Innovations like LiDAR for precise mapping and AI-driven autonomous paths define the future.
Who Deserves the Crown?
Pinpointing the absolute first drone depends on definition. If radio control and powered flight define it, Archibald Low edges out with the 1917 Aerial Target. For preset guidance, the Kettering Bug claims precedence. Earlier balloon experiments or Tesla’s boat stretch the term too far.
Regardless, these pioneers enabled today’s ecosystem. From aerial filmmaking techniques like sweeping flight paths to racing drones hitting 120 mph, drone tech embodies iterative innovation. As stabilization systems and sensors advance, the spirit of those early inventors lives on in every takeoff.
Exploring drone history not only answers “who,” but inspires what’s next—perhaps fully autonomous swarms or integrated urban air mobility. Whether you’re flying a DJI Avata for FPV thrills or mapping with Pix4D, the first drone’s legacy soars high.