The history of drones is, in fact, the history of all aircraft. From the Chinese kite flying gracefully through the air centuries ago to the introduction of the first hot air balloon, unmanned aerial vehicles predate the risky manned vehicles. According to legend, Zhuge Liang (180–234 A.D.), the warlord of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period, was one of the early users of drones, lighting oil lamps in paper balloons to heat up the air and then releasing the balloons over enemy camps at night, misleading the enemy into believing that divine power was at work. In modern times, drones are primarily autonomous/remotely operated aerial platforms capable of mimicking manned aircraft manoeuvres. The names of drones have changed many times over the years. Aircraft manufacturers, civil aviation authorities and the military have each given them different names. Aerial torpedoes, radio-controlled vehicles, remotely piloted platforms, remotely controlled vehicles, autonomously controlled platforms, unmanned platforms, pilotless remotely piloted aircraft and airborne unmanned platforms (which have evolved into drones) have all been used to describe these “unmanned on board” flying machines.