UAV drones

UAV stands for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. Simply stated, this is any drone that flies. However, much like the term USV can also include submersibles, this category can also cover vehicles that go into space (such as the Pioneer satellites, the Cassini probe, or even the Air Force's replacement for the Space Shuttle—the X37B.

The US Air Force's X37b can be drop-launched from a high-flying airplane, or mounted to a rocket. It can also autonomously stay in space for several years, change orbital paths, and return to the ground for an autonomous landing. The actual payloads and missions are classified. You didn't really think we'd rely on Russia and civilian agencies for all the United States' needs in space, did you?

We won't bother to get into space any further. After all, if you're working for NASA you probably don't need this book. Still, it was cool to mention. In the air, UAVs can be broken into five essential categories: