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Archytas of Tarentum
(between 400–350 BC) Attempts to build lifelike machines. Archytas built a steam-propelled mechanical dove. -
Tesla's radio-controlled motorboat
Tesla demonstrated a radio-controlled motorboat to a government representative, to have the rep. laugh in his face. http://www.historynet.com/drones-dont-die-a-history-of-military-robotics.htm -
Germany's FL-7 wire-guided motorboat
A motorboat designed to hold 300 pounds of explosives. The boat would ram a boat and explode on impact. This boat was used during WWI. -
Kettering Bug
(during WWI) An earlier version of what we now call a cruise missle. The Kettering Bug is a tiny airplane that used a barometer/altimeter, a mechanical counter and a preset gyroscope to fly on course and then crash into a target. The war ended before it could be used in combat. http://www.historynet.com/drones-dont-die-a-history-of-military-robotics.htm -
Germany updates controls for FL-7
Germany starts to use Tesla's wireless radio-control system to fix control problems. ttp://www.historynet.com/drones-dont-die-a-history-of-military-robotics.htm -
RP-4 Radioplane
Reginald Denny pitched his idea to use remote controlled planes as aerial targets for anti-aircraft gunners. http://www.historynet.com/drones-dont-die-a-history-of-military-robotics.htm -
Drones needed badly
During WWII the U.S. needed the drones so they ordered 15,000 OQ-1 drones. http://www.historynet.com/drones-dont-die-a-history-of-military-robotics.htm. -
U.S. Army orders RP-4
The Army orders 53 RP-4 radio panes, now designating it the OQ-1 http://www.historynet.com/drones-dont-die-a-history-of-military-robotics.htm -
OQ-2A released
Following the success of the RP-4, the prototype RP-5 was completed, then designated the A-2, but later the name changed to OQ-2A.The OQ-2A was a small plane with fabric-covered fuselage and wings, the latter having a wooden structure. http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/app1/oq-14.html -
OQ-7 completed
The OQ-7 was a derivative from the OQ-3 for increased performance. It had a new mid-mounted and slightly swept-back wing, but was otherwise identical to the OQ-3.This model was not produced because of the OQ-14. http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/app1/oq-14.html -
OQ-3 first flown
The OQ-3 was an improved derivative of the OQ-2. It had a sturdier steel-tube construction in the fuselage, an uprated O-15-3 engine driving a single propeller, no landing gear, and modified equipment. About 9400 examples of then OQ-3 were built by Frankford and Radioplane http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/app1/oq-14.html -
OQ-14 first flown
It was of heavier construction and had a more powerful O-45-1 engine, rated at 16 kW (22 hp). Compared to the OQ-3, the RP-8A also had a longer fuselage, a shorter wingspan, and wings set flush with the fuselage. About 5200 of the OQ-14 were produced by Radioplane and Frankford. http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/app1/oq-14.html -
Ryan Aeronautical makes an unmanned reconnaissance aircraft
After WWII unmanned systems improved, although Ryan Aeronatical got the only substantial military contract for the aircraft -
Lockheed MGM-105 Aquila program
The Aquila program was the next major military contract after the model 147. This aircraft was supposed to be a small propeller powered drone. The drone would circle enemy lines and collect data on their numbers and intentions. http://www.historynet.com/drones-dont-die-a-history-of-military-robotics.htm -
Guided bombs used
Guided bombs used in the Pursian Gulf War. -
Integration of the GPS into UAVs
Military operators could now dispatch GPS-equipped UAVs anywhere in the world and undertake reconnaissance and targeting missions with extreme precision. This system was used on the General Atomics RQ-1 predator and the Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk. Both of these UAVs made their combat debuts during NATO air operations in 1999. -
Packbot used in Afghanistan
The Packbot was field tested in Aghanistan. When the test ended the soilders didnt want to send it back. The bot was used to find IEDs.. More than 2500 have been sold since. -
Arsenal increases due to terrorist
Since the terrorist attack in 2001 the amount spend on ground robots has roughly doubled each year, the amount spent on aerial systems have grown by around 23 percent. -
UAVs used to spot potential dangers
The UAVs were used to spot potential threats such as IEDs,thus keeping soilders from harm. -
Many countries use UAVs
By now about 44 countries are pursuing unmanned military systems. The U.S. military inventory itself now contains about 12,000 ground robots and 7,000 UAVs.
