How did drones evolve from military weapons to everyday tools?
The first drone was built during World War I - over a century ago.
The answer
Unmanned aerial vehicles date back to 1918 when the U.S. military developed the Kettering Bug, an early cruise missile. Military drones evolved significantly during the War on Terror with the Predator and Reaper platforms. The consumer revolution began around 2013 when DJI's Phantom made affordable camera drones accessible to hobbyists. Today, drones deliver medical supplies in Rwanda, inspect wind turbines, map archaeological sites, fight wildfires, and are being developed as air taxis - a market projected to reach $1.5 trillion by 2040.
Source: Federal Aviation Administration
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