The public generally associate drones with the fleets of Predator and Reaper weapons platforms. However, technology first developed in the military soon spins off into the commercial sector – as evidenced by the post-WWII emergence into everyday American life of semiconductors, computers and jet aircraft. Is the increasing promotion of ‘disaster drones’ in the humanitarian sector part of a tech transfer which will eventually see drones as one more part of the consumer gadget playpen? Tomorrow’s drones will fly higher and longer, keep wider areas under surveillance and be so tiny they can work together in swarms. Will we be able to cope? Whatever happens, the lobby group is already here – http://www.auvsi.org/home