unmanned aerial vehicle

n. drone, unmanned small aircraft that is operated and controlled by remote control, UAV

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is an aircraft with no onboard pilot. UAVs can be remote controlled or fly autonomously based on pre-programmed flight plans or more complex dynamic automation systems. UAVs are currently used in a number of military roles, including reconnaissance and attack. They are also used in a small but growing number of civil applications such as firefighting where a human observer would be at risk, police observation of civil disturbances and scenes of crimes, and reconnaissance support in natural disasters.
See more at Wikipedia.org...