The first section of the book is a collection of feature articles from the pages of Make:, providing an introduction to the world of drones: those autonomous aerial vehicles that mostly (but not always) take the form of small quad-rotor helicopters called quadcopters.

The first article looks into what exactly drones are, and more importantly, what they are not. The second article provides a detailed breakdown of the anatomy of a drone: from its airframe to its propellers, from its battery to its brain. Subsequent articles look at how drones work, the positive ways drones are being used—as a way to drop food and other supplies to refugees in war-torn places around the world, and other uses for remote flying vehicles. With these five articles under your belt, you’ll be in a great position to understand and enjoy the rest of the book!