Unmanned

Unmanned is an adjective used to describe systems and vehicles that operate without a person on site. They are either remotely controlled by operators or programmed to function autonomously using onboard computers and sensors. The term covers air, land, sea, and space platforms, as well as stationary instruments.

Common examples include unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or drones), unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), unmanned maritime vehicles (UMVs), and unmanned spacecraft. In some contexts, the terms uncrewed or autonomous are used interchangeably with unmanned, but terminology varies by country and discipline.

The development of unmanned systems began in military aviation and evolved with improvements in remote control, guidance systems, and sensors. The late 20th and early 21st centuries saw rapid expansion into civil use, including agriculture, infrastructure inspection, disaster response, and logistics. Modern systems range from small consumer drones to large autonomous ships and planetary rovers.

Operating unmanned systems can reduce human risk and enable missions in dangerous or inaccessible environments. They also raise challenges such as safety, reliability, cyber security, air and maritime traffic management, and privacy concerns. Regulatory frameworks increasingly address certification, airspace access, remote identification, and operator training.

Overall, unmanned systems are a broad category reflecting the shift toward automation and remote operation across multiple sectors. Ongoing research aims to enhance autonomy, sensing, and resilience while ensuring safe integration with manned systems and regulatory compliance.