Drone facts for kids

A drone is a word that can mean different things! It can describe a male bee, a type of robot vehicle, or even a sound in music.

Drones in Nature

In nature, a drone is a male bee. Male bees do not collect pollen or make honey. Their main job is to mate with the queen bee. The term "drone" can also refer to a male wasp or a male ant.

Robot Drones (Vehicles)

When most people talk about drones today, they mean a type of robot vehicle. These vehicles can move without a human driver or pilot inside them. They are controlled remotely by someone far away, or they can follow a pre-programmed path.

• A unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is a flying robot. These are the most common "drones" you might see. They can be used for many things, like taking pictures from the sky, delivering packages, or even helping in search and rescue missions. Some are used by the military for things like target practice or watching over areas.
• A remotely operated vehicle (ROV) is a robot often used underwater. ROVs can explore the deep ocean, inspect underwater pipes, or help clear mines from the sea.
• An unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) is a robot that moves on land. UGVs are often used in dangerous situations where it's too risky for humans to go, like exploring places with bombs or hazardous materials.

Drones in Fiction

The idea of a "drone" also appears in many stories, movies, and games.

• In the Star Trek universe, a drone is a humanoid (a being that looks like a human) who has been taken over by the Borg. The Borg are a group of beings who assimilate (take over) other species and add them to their collective.
• In the Stargate universe, a Drone Weapon is a powerful weapon similar to a guided missile.
• In the movie Silent Running, there are three small, helpful robots named Huey, Dewey, and Louie. They are often called drones.
• In the game StarCraft, a Zerg worker unit is called a drone. These units gather resources and build structures for the Zerg.

Drones in Music

In music, a "drone" means a continuous sound or note that lasts throughout a piece of music.

• A Drone (music) is a long, steady note or chord. It often creates a background sound that other melodies play over.
• Some musical instruments, like the bagpipe, have parts that produce a continuous drone sound. This helps to give the music a rich, full sound.

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