The question of who first invented drones has no single, definitive answer. Unlike many inventions with a clear eureka moment, UAVs evolved through centuries of experimentation, military necessity, and technological breakthroughs. From ancient kites used as weapons to today’s sophisticated quadcopters buzzing through the skies, the drone’s story is one of incremental innovation. This article traces the fascinating history, highlighting key pioneers, milestones, and how early concepts paved the way for modern FPV racing drones, micro drones, and racing drones.
Early Concepts: Precursors to Powered Flight
The roots of drone technology stretch back thousands of years, long before engines or radio control. Ancient civilizations recognized the potential of unmanned flight for warfare and reconnaissance.
Kites and Balloons as Weapons
In China around 400 BCE, military strategists launched “fire kites”—bamboo frames carrying incendiary devices—to attack enemy camps. These were rudimentary but effective precursors to modern drones. Fast-forward to the 19th century: during the American Civil War (1861–1865), both Union and Confederate forces experimented with aerial torpedoes tethered to balloons. However, the first large-scale unmanned bombing campaign came in 1849, when Austrian forces unleashed hot-air balloon bombs against Venice. Over 200 balloons, each packed with explosives, were floated across the lagoon, though wind patterns limited their accuracy.
These balloon-based systems lacked control, relying on prevailing winds. True innovation arrived with radio technology. In 1898, Nikola Tesla demonstrated a radio-controlled boat at Madison Square Garden, proving remote operation was feasible. While not airborne, this laid the groundwork for wireless drone control, influencing later navigation and stabilization systems.
The Birth of Powered Drones in World War I
World War I accelerated drone development as nations sought ways to train anti-aircraft gunners without risking pilots. This era marked the shift from passive balloons to powered, recoverable aircraft.
Archibald Low and the “Aerial Target”
British engineer Archibald Low is often credited as the father of modern drones. In 1916, working for the military, Low developed the “Aerial Target”—a monoplane with a 100-horsepower engine, radio controls for rudder and elevator, and a rudimentary gyroscope for stability. Launched from a ramp, it flew short distances over the English Channel. Though primitive and prone to crashes, it was the first powered aircraft designed specifically as an unmanned target. Low’s work introduced key elements still seen today, like sensors for basic autopilot.
U.S. Experiments: Sperry and the Curtis N-9
Across the Atlantic, the U.S. Navy collaborated with inventor Peter Cooper Hewitt and the Curtis Aeroplane and Motor Company. In 1917, they adapted the Curtis N-9 seaplane into a radio-controlled drone. Pilot Lawrence Sperry, son of gyroscope pioneer Elmer Sperry, demonstrated automatic stabilization using gyroscopes—foreshadowing today’s GPS and obstacle avoidance tech. Sperry’s “unmanned aviator” system allowed hands-off flight, a breakthrough for flight technology.
Despite these advances, World War I ended before drones saw combat. Only about a dozen flights occurred, but the blueprint for target drones was set.
World War II: Drones Go to War
The interwar period saw refinements, but World War II turned drones into production realities. Militaries mass-produced them for training and kamikaze roles.
The Radioplane OQ-2 and Hollywood’s Contribution
In the U.S., Reginald Denny, a British World War I ace turned actor, founded Radioplane Company in 1936. His OQ-2 (originally RP-4), introduced in 1941, became the most produced aircraft in history—over 15,000 units. Powered by a 2-stroke engine, it flew at 100 mph with radio control up to 40 miles. Future actress Shirley Temple even assembled some during wartime labor shortages. The OQ-2 trained 90% of U.S. anti-aircraft gunners, proving drones’ scalability.
Germany’s V-1 Buzz Bomb and Other Axis Efforts
Nazi Germany deployed the Fieseler Fi 103, or V-1 “buzz bomb,” in 1944. This pulsejet-powered cruise missile flew 150 miles autonomously via gyroscopes and preset altimeters. Over 30,000 were launched against London and Antwerp, killing thousands. Though one-way (non-recoverable), the V-1 influenced modern loitering munitions. Japan’s I-Go-1 and Britain’s de Havilland Queen Bee (a radio-controlled Tiger Moth variant) added to the arsenal.
Post-war, the U.S. Ryan Firebee reconnaissance drone (1951) introduced jet propulsion and photo-reconnaissance, evolving into thermal imaging platforms.
Cold War to Civilian Era: Diversification and Miniaturization
The Cold War fueled drone proliferation for surveillance and target practice, while the 1980s–2000s saw civilian applications emerge.
Military Staples: Predator and Beyond
The MQ-1 Predator (1995), developed by General Atomics, revolutionized warfare with real-time video feeds via satellite links—early gimbal cameras. Equipped with Hellfire missiles by 2001, it blurred lines between recon and strike. Israel’s IAI Scout (1981) and Pioneer drones set precedents for optical zoom and endurance flights.
Quadcopters and Consumer Boom
True civilian drones exploded in the 2010s, thanks to affordable quadrotor designs. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania GRASP lab popularized multi-rotor stability in 2007. DJI, founded in 2006 by Frank Wang, democratized the tech with the Phantom series (2013), integrating 4K cameras, GPS, and apps for aerial filmmaking. Models like the DJI Mavic series added foldable designs and AI follow mode.
Swiss ETH Zurich‘s Flying Machine Arena pushed boundaries with swarms of 90+ micro-quadcopters performing acrobatics, showcasing autonomous flight and mapping. Today’s Parrot Anafi and Autel Evo emphasize portability, while GoPro Hero cameras enable FPV systems for immersive racing.
Modern Innovations and the Future of Drones
Today, drones integrate remote sensing, batteries, controllers, and propellers for diverse uses: agriculture, delivery, and cinematic shots like hyperlapse paths.
Key Technologies Driving Progress
- Sensors and AI: Obstacle avoidance via LiDAR and computer vision enables safe cinematic shots.
- Accessories Ecosystem: Cases and apps optimize workflows.
- Swarms and Autonomy: Projects like Flying Machine Arena demonstrate collision-free group flights.
Challenges remain—regulations, privacy, battery life—but innovations promise urban air mobility and disaster response. From Low’s Aerial Target to swarming quadcopters, drones embody human ingenuity in flight.
In summary, no one “invented” drones alone. Archibald Low built the first powered prototype, but contributions from Tesla, Sperry, Denny, and modern firms like DJI shaped them. As tech & innovation accelerates, drones will redefine our skies.