How Military Drones Were Designed

An illustrated inventions story from Wonder Inventions — free to read, with narration.

How Military Drones Were Designed — an illustrated inventions story, set in Egypt. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Inventions.

How Military Drones Were Designed — book cover — Wonder Inventions
How Military Drones Were Designed — an illustrated inventions story, set in Egypt. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Inventions.

Page 1

Elodie slumped onto the overgrown steps of her apartment building, the humid air heavy with the scent of blooming jasmine.
Elodie slumped onto the overgrown steps of her apartment building, the humid air heavy with the scent of blooming jasmine. "Another delivery drone buzzing past," she sighed, watching the sleek machine disappear between the verdant skyscrapers. Kai, sprawled on the steps beside her, didn't look up from his datapad game. "So? They're convenient. I ordered bubble tea, and it'll be here in five minutes."

Elodie slumped onto the overgrown steps of her apartment building, the humid air heavy with the scent of blooming jasmine. "Another delivery drone buzzing past," she sighed, watching the sleek machine disappear between the verdant skyscrapers. Kai, sprawled on the steps beside her, didn't look up from his datapad game. "So? They're convenient. I ordered bubble tea, and it'll be here in five minutes."

Page 2

Elodie's eyes narrowed. "But who invented them, Kai? Who decided we needed robot birds delivering everything?" She hopped up, energized by a sudden thought.
Elodie's eyes narrowed. "But who invented them, Kai? Who decided we needed robot birds delivering everything?" She hopped up, energized by a sudden thought. "Imagine living without the ability to see far away or in dangerous situations. How did people manage before drones?" Before Kai could answer, Elodie dashed inside, her worn leather notebook clutched in her hand.

Elodie's eyes narrowed. "But who invented them, Kai? Who decided we needed robot birds delivering everything?" She hopped up, energized by a sudden thought. "Imagine living without the ability to see far away or in dangerous situations. How did people manage before drones?" Before Kai could answer, Elodie dashed inside, her worn leather notebook clutched in her hand.

Page 3

Inside her room, filled with scientific models and holographic displays, Elodie pulled her glowing Invention Encyclopedia from the shelf.
Inside her room, filled with scientific models and holographic displays, Elodie pulled her glowing Invention Encyclopedia from the shelf. The book shimmered, and a wave of light engulfed her. \"'The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing,'

Inside her room, filled with scientific models and holographic displays, Elodie pulled her glowing Invention Encyclopedia from the shelf. The book shimmered, and a wave of light engulfed her. \"'The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing,'

Page 4

The light faded, and Elodie found herself in a dusty aircraft hangar, the air thick with the smell of oil and metal. It was August 1917, and the First World War…
The light faded, and Elodie found herself in a dusty aircraft hangar, the air thick with the smell of oil and metal. It was August 1917, and the First World War raged. A man in his early 40s with pale freckled skin and thick straight black hair with a gentle wave at the ends was pacing anxiously. \"If only we could see what's happening on the front lines without risking more lives!\" he exclaimed, throwing his hands up in frustration.

The light faded, and Elodie found herself in a dusty aircraft hangar, the air thick with the smell of oil and metal. It was August 1917, and the First World War raged. A man in his early 40s with pale freckled skin and thick straight black hair with a gentle wave at the ends was pacing anxiously. \"If only we could see what's happening on the front lines without risking more lives!\" he exclaimed, throwing his hands up in frustration.

Page 5

"Excuse me," Elodie interjected, approaching the man, "are you...Arjun, by any chance? Are you working on something that could help?" Arjun stopped pacing and…
"Excuse me," Elodie interjected, approaching the man, "are you...Arjun, by any chance? Are you working on something that could help?" Arjun stopped pacing and stared at her, surprised. "I am Arjun. And I'm trying to devise a way to observe enemy positions remotely. The trenches are a death trap, and aerial reconnaissance is too risky for our pilots."

"Excuse me," Elodie interjected, approaching the man, "are you...Arjun, by any chance? Are you working on something that could help?" Arjun stopped pacing and stared at her, surprised. "I am Arjun. And I'm trying to devise a way to observe enemy positions remotely. The trenches are a death trap, and aerial reconnaissance is too risky for our pilots."

Page 6

"I had an idea, back in 1916, for what I called an 'aerial target'," Arjun continued, leading Elodie to a workbench covered in wires and rudimentary components.
"I had an idea, back in 1916, for what I called an 'aerial target'," Arjun continued, leading Elodie to a workbench covered in wires and rudimentary components. "It would be radio-controlled, unmanned. Charles Kettering helped with the design." He gestured to a small, wooden biplane model. "We even called it the Kettering Bug! But it wasn't precise enough and could only fly in a straight line for about 40 miles."

"I had an idea, back in 1916, for what I called an 'aerial target'," Arjun continued, leading Elodie to a workbench covered in wires and rudimentary components. "It would be radio-controlled, unmanned. Charles Kettering helped with the design." He gestured to a small, wooden biplane model. "We even called it the Kettering Bug! But it wasn't precise enough and could only fly in a straight line for about 40 miles."

Page 7

"So, it wasn't quite a drone as we know it now?" Elodie asked, scribbling in her notebook. "Not yet," Arjun replied, a hint of frustration in his voice.
"So, it wasn't quite a drone as we know it now?" Elodie asked, scribbling in her notebook. "Not yet," Arjun replied, a hint of frustration in his voice. "But it was a start! After the war, the technology continued to evolve. By the Vietnam War, remotely piloted vehicles were being used for reconnaissance. But it was the Yom Kippur War in 1973 where Israel used drones to suppress Egyptian missile defenses. That really demonstrated their potential."

"So, it wasn't quite a drone as we know it now?" Elodie asked, scribbling in her notebook. "Not yet," Arjun replied, a hint of frustration in his voice. "But it was a start! After the war, the technology continued to evolve. By the Vietnam War, remotely piloted vehicles were being used for reconnaissance. But it was the Yom Kippur War in 1973 where Israel used drones to suppress Egyptian missile defenses. That really demonstrated their potential."

Page 8

Arjun picked up a small vacuum tube. "This little device is essential! It's what allows us to remotely control the aircraft.
Arjun picked up a small vacuum tube. "This little device is essential! It's what allows us to remotely control the aircraft. Without advances in radio technology, none of this would be possible." Elodie gasped. "That's it! Back in my time, they say connecting people changes everything - we need vacuum tubes to communicate! That's why they couldn't control the 'Bug' reliably."

Arjun picked up a small vacuum tube. "This little device is essential! It's what allows us to remotely control the aircraft. Without advances in radio technology, none of this would be possible." Elodie gasped. "That's it! Back in my time, they say connecting people changes everything - we need vacuum tubes to communicate! That's why they couldn't control the 'Bug' reliably."

Page 9

A bright flash filled the hangar as the Invention Encyclopedia called Elodie home. Back in her room, the Encyclopedia closed with a soft thud.
A bright flash filled the hangar as the Invention Encyclopedia called Elodie home. Back in her room, the Encyclopedia closed with a soft thud. "Wow!" she exclaimed. "From the Kettering Bug to the advanced drones of today... it all started with a need to connect and see, and the hard work of people like Arjun!"

A bright flash filled the hangar as the Invention Encyclopedia called Elodie home. Back in her room, the Encyclopedia closed with a soft thud. "Wow!" she exclaimed. "From the Kettering Bug to the advanced drones of today... it all started with a need to connect and see, and the hard work of people like Arjun!"

Page 10

Elodie raced back outside, notebook in hand. "Kai! Guess what? Military drones evolved from World War I technology! And they relied on advances in radio and…
Elodie raced back outside, notebook in hand. "Kai! Guess what? Military drones evolved from World War I technology! And they relied on advances in radio and vacuum tubes – just like our comms devices today!" Kai looked up, finally interested. "So, bubble tea delivery is thanks to military inventions?" Elodie grinned. "In a way, yes! Now, about that bubble tea..."

Elodie raced back outside, notebook in hand. "Kai! Guess what? Military drones evolved from World War I technology! And they relied on advances in radio and vacuum tubes – just like our comms devices today!" Kai looked up, finally interested. "So, bubble tea delivery is thanks to military inventions?" Elodie grinned. "In a way, yes! Now, about that bubble tea..."

About this story

  • Location: Egypt
  • Audience: general readers

Questions and answers

Questions and answers about How Military Drones Were Designed

Read Wonder Inventions on your phone

Wonder Inventions is available on Android. Get Wonder Inventions on Google Play.

More Wonder Inventions stories

All Wonder Inventions stories · Open the library