1. Francisco Jose Goñi:
- Spanish engineer and inventor who is considered one of the pioneers in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
- In 1927, he demonstrated the first documented successful unmanned flight of an aircraft.
2. Nikola Tesla:
- Serbian-American inventor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, and futurist.
- In an article published in 1919, Tesla described the concept of a "teleautomaton," which closely resembles the modern concept of a flying drone.
3. Juan de la Cierva:
- Spanish engineer and aviation pioneer.
- Developed the autogyro in the 1920s, an aircraft that combines elements of a helicopter and a traditional fixed-wing aircraft.
- This early development contributed to the foundation of rotorcraft technology, used in today's drones.
4. The "Manhattan Project":
- During World War II, in the context of the Manhattan Project to develop atomic weapons, various technological advancements were made in the field of remote control and automatic guidance.
- These advancements laid the groundwork for the development of military drone applications.
5. Abraham Karem:
- American inventor and engineer, widely regarded as the "father of the drone."
- In the 1960s and 70s, Karem developed and flew the "Karem Drone," which was among the first true unmanned aerial vehicles.
6. Israeli Defense Forces (IDF):
- The Israel Defense Forces made significant advancements in drone technology during the 1970s and 1980s.
- They developed and successfully deployed the "Scout" and "Mastiff" drones for surveillance and reconnaissance purposes.
7. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI):
- An American company founded in 1983, GA-ASI is known for developing and producing numerous military and civilian drone systems, including the famous "Predator" series of drones.
These are just a few examples of the numerous individuals, teams, and organizations that contributed to the development of flying drones. The invention and evolution of drones involve multiple innovations and advancements over time, and the field continues to see rapid innovation and technological progress to this day.