The question of who invented the drone aircraft is more complex than a single name or date. Unlike the airplane, credited largely to the Wright brothers, drones evolved through centuries of experimentation, military necessity, and technological breakthroughs. What we call drones today—primarily unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)—range from simple radio-controlled models to sophisticated quadcopters equipped with GPS, obstacle avoidance systems, and gimbal cameras. Their story begins with rudimentary unmanned flyers and culminates in the consumer boom driven by companies like DJI. This article traces the key milestones, inventors, and innovations that shaped drone history.
The Dawn of Unmanned Aerial Concepts
Human fascination with flying without a pilot dates back millennia, but true drone precursors emerged in the 19th century amid advances in aeronautics and explosives.
Ancient and Balloon-Based Experiments
While not powered aircraft, early unmanned flights laid conceptual groundwork. In ancient China, kites were weaponized to carry firebombs, hinting at remote aerial attacks. Fast-forward to 1849 during the Siege of Venice: Austrians launched over 200 unmanned hot-air balloons loaded with explosives toward the city. These “aerial torpedoes” were wind-dependent and inaccurate, but they demonstrated the potential of unmanned ordnance delivery.
By the late 1800s, inventors experimented with tethered drones. In 1898, Nikola Tesla showcased a radio-controlled boat at Madison Square Garden, using wireless signals to steer it. Though aquatic, this invention proved remote control feasibility, influencing future UAVs. Tesla envisioned scaling it to aircraft, predicting “warships without crews” that could be directed wirelessly.
Pre-WWI Gyro-Stabilized Flyers
Aviation pioneers tackled stability next. In 1909, Albrecht Ludwig Friedrich Hagener built the first pilotless plane in Germany, a tailless glider with gyroscopic stabilization. Around 1916, American inventor Peter Cooper Hewitt and Elmer Ambrose Sperry developed the Sperry Gyroplane, an automatic stabilizing device fitted to a Curtiss flying boat. It flew unmanned for 10 minutes before crashing, showcasing early stabilization systems akin to modern drone tech.
These efforts highlighted core challenges: autonomy, control, and reliability—issues still central to today’s FPV drones and racing drones.
World War I: The Birth of Purpose-Built Drones
World War I accelerated drone development as nations sought to spare pilots from dangerous target practice and kamikaze-style missions.
The Kettering Bug
Often hailed as the first true drone aircraft, the Kettering Bug was invented by Charles Kettering in 1917 for the U.S. Army. This winged “aerial torpedo” was a 12-foot biplane powered by a 40-horsepower engine, preset to fly 75 miles at 120 mph before diving into a target. Over 50 were built, but only one test flight succeeded due to control issues. Despite failures, it pioneered preset navigation, foreshadowing autonomous flight in modern micro drones.
British and French Counterparts
Britain’s Aerial Target (AT) drone, developed by A.V. Roe, flew in 1917 as a radio-controlled target. France’s Pioneer and Saunders Aéroplanes followed, using ground operators with radio or wire guidance. These emphasized navigation via line-of-sight control, much like early FPV systems.
By war’s end, drones proved viable for training anti-aircraft gunners, reducing live pilot risks.
World War II and Cold War Advancements
WWII saw drones evolve from targets to reconnaissance platforms, with radio control maturing.
Radio-Controlled Targets and Reconnaissance
The U.S. introduced the Radioplane OQ-2, a plywood biplane built by actor Reginald Denny’s company. Over 15,000 units served as targets, with actress Norma Jeane (later Marilyn Monroe) assembling some. Germany’s V-1 buzz bomb, a pulse-jet cruise missile, functioned as a one-way drone, launching over 30,000 against London.
Post-WWII, jet-powered drones like the U.S. Ryan Firebee (1951) enabled high-altitude reconnaissance. It flew autonomously with radio overrides, incorporating early sensors for photo-recon.
Vietnam Era and Beyond
The Ryan Firebee saw heavy Vietnam use, logging thousands of sorties. Israel’s IAI Scout (1981) marked the first tactical battlefield UAV, beaming real-time video— a precursor to thermal cameras and 4K cameras on today’s drones.
These military roots emphasized durability, with tech like inertial navigation influencing consumer GPS-guided quads.
From Military Might to Consumer Skies
The 1990s-2000s shifted drones from classified weapons to hobbyist toys and pro tools, fueled by miniaturization and computing power.
The Quadcopter Revolution
While military drones were fixed-wing, multirotor designs revived consumer interest. In 1994, Yuri Koshirenko’s UFO quadcopter used four rotors for vertical takeoff. But the game-changer was 2006’s Draganflyer X6 by Draganfly Innovations, a six-rotor with swashplate control.
Open-source projects accelerated this. The ArduPilot platform (2009) enabled DIY autonomy, while Pixhawk autopilots added AI follow mode.
DJI and the Modern Drone Boom
Chinese firm DJI, founded by Frank Wang in 2006, democratized drones. The 2013 DJI Phantom series integrated gimbal cameras, GPS, and user-friendly apps, selling millions. Models like the DJI Mini 4 Pro now offer optical zoom, 4K video, and obstacle avoidance, perfect for aerial filmmaking.
DJI’s dominance stems from innovations in flight controllers, batteries, and software, making cinematic shots accessible.
The Future of Drone Innovation
No single inventor claims the drone aircraft; it’s a tapestry of contributions from Tesla’s wireless dreams to Kettering’s bug and DJI’s polish. Today, advancements in remote sensing, mapping, and AI promise swarms for agriculture, delivery, and search-and-rescue.
Accessories like high-capacity batteries, propellers, and controllers enhance usability, while regulations evolve to integrate drones safely.
As GoPro Hero cameras mount on FPV racers, the line blurs between hobby and profession. Drones embody iterative genius, transforming skies from battlefields to creative canvases.