Drones or UAVs?

[Air Hockey Propellers]

Is it just me or what we now know as drones such as the Reaper were at first called UAVs. And back then, what we called drones were semi-autonomous machines. Now, we seem to be left without a word for semi-autonomous machines, while we completely forgot about the term R/C.

 

Here's a link with with further reading:

https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-a-drone-and-an-R-C-plane-or-helicopter 

 

 

[boffin]

The preferred RAF term is RPAS - Remotely Piloted Air System.  Which has the advantage of making it clear that there is a person in the loop (excepting loos of signal where the platform has a pre-programmed plan)

 

I think the terms and UAV are too imprecise.

 

George

[huvut76g7gbbui7]

@boffin sums it up correctly in my opinion.                                                                                                                                                                                                      I have always thought of drones as being a sixties (or earlier) name when they were really quite primitive and mainly used as targets.