What is an unmanned aircraft that is remotely controlled called?

The term "drone" is commonly used to refer to an unmanned aircraft that is remotely controlled. Drones can vary in design, size, and functionality but share the characteristic of being operated without a pilot onboard. They are widely utilized in various fields, including photography, surveillance, agriculture, and recreation.

While UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) is technically accurate and is often used in regulatory and professional contexts to describe any type of unmanned aircraft, the term "drone" has become more mainstream and is widely understood by the general public to mean a remotely controlled aircraft, which is why it is frequently used in everyday language.

Helicopters and satellites do not accurately define a remotely controlled unmanned aircraft. Helicopters are typically manned aircraft with specific flight capabilities, and satellites are spacecraft that orbit the Earth and are not generally controlled in the same manner as drones are. Thus, the term "drone" effectively captures the essence of an unmanned aircraft that operates under remote control.