British unmanned aerial vehicles of World War I

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) include both autonomous (capable of operating without human input) drones and remotely piloted vehicles (RPVs). The UAVs used in World War I were RPVs. Soon after its change from the Army Balloon Factory to the Royal Aircraft Factory in 1912, designers at this Farnborough base turned their thoughts to flying an unmanned aircraft. During the First World War this pioneering work resulted in trials of remotely controlled aircraft for the Royal Flying Corps and unmanned boats for the Royal Navy that were controlled from 'mother' aircraft. By the end of the war Britain had flown and controlled a drone aircraft and a number of fast unmanned motor boats operating in close flotilla formation that had been individually controlled by radio from operators flying in 'mother' aircraft. The work continued in the interwar years.