“Unmanned aerial vehicle” is fine; so is “remote-controlled quad-copter,” I’d imagine. The industry that makes the pilotless flying robots most know as “drones” just doesn’t want you calling them “drones,” according to a Washington Post report.
Why? Because “drone” conjures up the image of innocent people dying in Yemen and Pakistan, of surveillance vehicles snooping on your without your permission. But drones can be friendly, too! Just look at this beautiful drone footage of the graffiti mecca 5 Pointz, or this adorable fleet of Voltron-esque mini robots if you don’t believe me.
A Post reporter recently visited a conference of unmanned aerial vehicle industry types, many of whom were eager to dispel drones’ sinister image; and the word “drone” itself. The sentiment even included the local Wi-Fi password: “Dontsaydrones.”
