An illustrated history of drones

Before the turn of the 20th century, the thought of airplanes — or any kind of aerial machine, for that matter — was purely science fiction.

Fast forward to the 21st century, and drones have completely taken over the spotlight of the sky. The phrase "drone" — or "unmanned aerial vehicle" — is tossed around in news reports on a near-daily basis: Drone Strike Kills 6 in Pakistan; Amazon's Drone Delivery: How Would it Work?

Or, of course, there's even the inevitable: Yes, Drone-Porn Is Now a Thing

See also: The 19 best drone photos of 2014

So what, exactly, are drones? Killers, surveyors, recreational toys? All three? And what, above everything else, do they mean for our future? Read more...

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