Unmanned Aerial Vehicles at the Smithsonian

The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum has mounted a display of unmanned aerial vehicles, essentially model airplanes outfitted with GPS, microprocessors, and surveillance tech for battlefield reconnaissance. Seen here is a prototype of the 5 pound, 45-inch AeroVironment Dragon Eye. It was launched by hand or slingshot style with a bungee cord. From Smithsonian:

Unmanned and remote-controlled aircraft have a surprisingly long history. "The technology that goes into a UAV has been around for 100 years," (museum curator Dik) Daso says, "since before World War I." Henry Ford and other top engineers helped to design both full-size and scale planes that were radio-controlled. The Great War ended before any of them could go into action. Now, Daso adds, "there are so many UAVs in the air, it's hard to keep track of them all..."

So why did (Dragon Eye co-developer Rob Colbow) decide to include this duct-taped veteran in the UAV display? "I wanted it for all the kids who, like me, have built things like this."

Under the Radar with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

• [Anonymous]

  You need some form of guidance unless you want it to be as accurate as the WW2 V1 buzz bombs. Either some sort of GPS or a minimal remote control + a small video camera.

  Maybe you can remove the vid cam if the operator can see the plane and the target.

• [rasz]

  not much, you can get 1-2kg at most off the ground in big commercially available model airplanes (ones you could buy from ebay). Anything bigger would need custom work and be easier to track down after the icident.
  You have to remember a bomb is not only an explosive substance, you also need shrapnel material. Ball bearings are not exactly light.

  All in all you could strap 2-3 F1 grenades to a really BIG model airplane. Very bad cost/benefit ratio, morons^^^martyrs are free after all.

• [dainel]

  If we remove the surveillance equipment, how much explosives can be crammed into that thing? Terrorists can quit killing themselves …