The question “Who invented a drone?” doesn’t have a simple answer. Unlike inventions like the lightbulb or telephone, which are often credited to a single visionary, drones evolved through centuries of innovation, military necessity, and technological breakthroughs. From ancient flying devices to today’s sophisticated quadcopters and UAVs, the drone’s story is one of collective ingenuity. Early precursors laid the groundwork for unmanned flight, while 20th-century pioneers introduced radio control, stabilization, and autonomy. Today, consumer models like those from DJI dominate with features such as GPS navigation, gimbal cameras, and obstacle avoidance. This article traces the drone’s fascinating history, highlighting key milestones and inventors who shaped modern FPV systems, racing drones, and aerial filmmaking tools.
Early Precursors to Unmanned Flight
Drones as we know them—autonomous or remotely piloted aircraft—trace their roots far beyond the digital age. The concept of flying machines without human pilots dates back thousands of years, driven by warfare, experimentation, and curiosity.
Ancient and Pre-Modern Experiments
Humanity’s first “drones” were rudimentary. Around 400 BCE, the Chinese military attached gunpowder bombs to kites, launching them at enemy camps. These unmanned aerial attacks prefigured modern explosive UAVs. In ancient Greece, Archytas of Tarentum reportedly flew a steam-powered wooden pigeon in 400 BCE, an early demonstration of mechanical flight.
Fast-forward to the 19th century, when balloon technology advanced unmanned warfare. In 1849, during the Siege of Venice, Austrians used hot-air balloons loaded with explosives, floated over enemy lines by wind. These “aerial torpedoes” marked the first large-scale use of disposable unmanned craft. Similar tactics appeared in the American Civil War, where both Union and Confederate forces experimented with bomb-laden balloons, though wind unpredictability limited success.
These early efforts lacked control, relying on prevailing winds. True drones required propulsion and guidance, setting the stage for radio technology.
The Dawn of Radio Control
The breakthrough came with wireless communication. In 1898, Nikola Tesla demonstrated radio-controlled boats at Madison Square Garden, proving remote manipulation was possible. Though not airborne, this laid the foundation for FPV systems and modern controllers.
By World War I, militaries raced to weaponize the idea. In 1916, British inventor Archibald Low developed the “Aerial Target,” a radio-guided monoplane intended as an anti-Zeppelin drone. Though unstable, it flew briefly, earning recognition as one of the first powered unmanned aircraft. Across the Atlantic, American engineer Charles Kettering designed the Kettering Bug in 1918—a winged “aerial torpedo” with a preset autopilot for bombing runs. It reached 50 mph but was shelved due to accuracy issues.
These prototypes introduced key concepts like inertial navigation precursors and stabilization, echoing today’s sensors in micro drones.
Pioneers of the 20th Century Drone
The interwar period and World War II accelerated drone development, shifting from experiments to production. Military demands birthed reliable radio-controlled targets and reconnaissance craft.
World War II and the Radioplane Revolution
Hollywood actor and aviator Reginald Denny founded Radioplane Company in 1930s Los Angeles, producing the OQ-2 Radioplane—the most manufactured aircraft in U.S. history at over 15,000 units. These wooden, pulse-jet-powered trainers simulated enemy planes for anti-aircraft practice. Future actress Shirley Temple even assembled fuselages on the factory line. The OQ-2 featured basic radio control via joystick, rudimentary telemetry, and parachute recovery—features refined in modern drone accessories like controllers and propellers.
Post-WWII, declassified tech spurred civilian uses. In the 1950s, engineers like Dr. George de Bothezat experimented with multirotor designs, building on earlier quadcopters.
The Quadcopter Breakthrough
While fixed-wing drones dominated military applications, multirotors offered vertical takeoff and hover stability—ideal for today’s racing drones and cinematography.
French inventor Étienne Oehmichen achieved a milestone in 1924 with his Oehmichen No. 2, the first manned quadrotor to fly a kilometer. Powered by four rotors and a tail propeller, it incorporated swashplates for control, precursors to modern stabilization systems. Oehmichen logged over 1,000 flights, proving multirotor viability despite crashes due to primitive materials.
In the U.S., Professor Anton Flettner advanced cyclic pitch rotors in the 1930s, influencing helicopter tech. These efforts converged in the 1950s when Dr. Ivo Lenzi patented a servo-stabilized quadcopter model, though it remained experimental.
By the Vietnam War era, UAVs like the Ryan Firebee conducted reconnaissance, incorporating early TV cameras—foreshadowing 4K cameras and thermal imaging.
The Father of the Modern Drone: Abraham Karem
If any individual deserves the title “father of the modern drone,” it’s Abraham Karem, an Iraqi-Jewish engineer who revolutionized UAVs in the 1970s-1980s.
Karem’s Innovations and the Predator
Immigrating to the U.S., Karem founded Leading Edge Dynamics in 1981. Frustrated by short-endurance jet drones, he pioneered long-loiter, piston-engine UAVs. His Amber drone (1983) flew 16-hour missions with satellite data links, transforming reconnaissance.
This evolved into the GNAT-750, adopted by the CIA. Its successor, the MQ-1 Predator, debuted in 1995 with real-time video feeds, Hellfire missiles, and beyond-line-of-sight control via satellite. Karem’s genius lay in efficient aerodynamics, lightweight composites, and reliable engines—principles underpinning DJI Mini 4 Pro and similar consumer models.
Karem’s company was acquired by General Atomics, spawning the Reaper series. His work saved lives by enabling remote strikes, while inspiring civilian adaptations like mapping and remote sensing.
From Military to Consumer: The Drone Boom
The 21st century democratized drones, blending Karem’s endurance with multirotor agility and smartphone tech.
Rise of Consumer Quadcopters
In 2010, Parrot launched the AR.Drone, a WiFi-controlled quadcopter with iPhone app piloting and basic FPV. It popularized indoor flight but lacked GPS.
DJI ignited the boom with the 2013 Phantom series: GPS-enabled, stabilized gimbals, and 1080p cameras for under $500. Features like return-to-home and intelligent flight modes set standards for aerial filmmaking, enabling cinematic shots and creative paths.
Today, innovations abound: AI Follow Mode, autonomous flight, optical zoom, and GoPro Hero integrations power FPV racing and inspections.
Accessories like high-capacity batteries, carbon-fiber propellers, and apps enhance usability. Regulations from the FAA have matured the industry, fostering safe obstacle avoidance via LiDAR and vision systems.
The Future of Drones: Innovation Without End
No single inventor claims the drone; it’s a tapestry woven by Tesla’s radio waves, Oehmichen’s rotors, Karem’s endurance, and DJI’s accessibility. From military targets to backyard racers, drones now excel in agriculture, delivery, and Hollywood productions with gimbal cameras capturing 4K vistas.
Looking ahead, swarm tech, hydrogen fuel cells, and quantum sensors promise swarms for disaster response and hyper-real thermal mapping. The drone’s evolution continues, blending navigation smarts with creative freedom.
In essence, we all “invent” drones today—pilots tweaking controllers, filmmakers chasing angles, racers pushing limits. The sky is no longer the limit; it’s the canvas.
