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Drones Facts

Drones Facts
Drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are a type of aircraft that does not carry a pilot. They are controlled by a ground-based controller, or by an onboard computer. Originally they were designed to replace humans on missions that were considered too dangerous, or not appropriate for human pilots. They were mostly used for military purposes when they were first invented but today they can be seen in use for other purposes as well, such as for scientific research, agricultural use, recreational use, commercial use, and for surveillance, police work, peacekeeping missions, racing, and for illegal activities such as smuggling.
Interesting Drones Facts:
Prior to the use of drones in photography, photographers often used cameras on kites to capture shots from the sky.
There is a program in place in Africa and Asia that uses drones to help catch poachers.
Drones are banned in all National Parks in the United States after a tourist used a remote control drone and crashed it into a hot spring in Yellowstone National Park.
There is a program in Holland to train eagles to fight drones.
American Predator drones being used in Iraq had their video feeds interrupted by insurgents using a program called SkyGrabber that cost only $23.
An ambulance drone was created by students that carries medical supplies and both a camera and a speaker so that it can reach the injured person and tell them what to do.
It is estimated that there will be more than 20,000 drones in the sky in the United States within 15 years.
The U.S. military uses drones a lot. It is estimated that roughly 30% of their aircraft are drones.
The first time drones were used in combat was in the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s.
Fighter aircraft that is no longer suitable for military use is now being used as target practice for drones.
There is a hummingbird drone that could be mistaken for the real thing. It carries a camera and takes an AA battery.
In 2012 there were more drone pilots trained in the US than pilots trained for bomber and fighter jets.
There are drones the size of insects that are used to search for victims of natural disasters and other catastrophic events.
One week prior to 9/11, the first armed predator drone flights began.
Drones are believed to have been invented by Nikola Tesla, a famous inventor from Croatia born in 1856.
In 2000 a US drone spotted a man that looked like Bin Laden but because the drones were not armed back then they could not attack.
Drones are used to deliver life-saving medical supplies to very remote regions in countries such as Africa.
Farmers can use drones to check on the condition of their crops and help determine which areas are ready for harvest.
Because drones are becoming so popular for recreational and consumer use, there is now a drone racing league.
Police are using drones for surveillance and drug busts, however the legality of their use is in question due to warrant issues.


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