'Drones' or 'smart' unmanned aerial vehicles?

Abstract

Over the past decade or so, it has become commonplace to refer to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as 'drones', no doubt in reference to the bee-like, deep humming sound they supposedly emit as they fly endlessly along programmed routes in search of potential targets. However, the term 'drone' has a number of less favourable connotations - notably 'idling', 'monotonous' and 'non-working' - which depreciate and disparage the increasing utility and cost-effectiveness of UAVs in modern warfare.