Wayland ISBN 978-1526309662 £12.99
This is an excellent book that is informative and thought-provoking. Drones, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, are playing an increasingly important role in our modern world. The book explains what a drone is and explores the history of drones. The timeline highlights how rapidly they have developed. Then we see a clear close-up of a drone showing the anatomy with captions explaining clearly the function of each component. Next we learn how to master the controls to keep a vehicle in the air and steady.
Potter goes on to describe what drones are used for. The range is fascinating, from delivering pizzas to transporting vital medical supplies and equipment to remote areas where journeys can be treacherous. Drones can help archaeology, tree planting, the construction industry, filming, the emergency services and the military. They can monitor crowds, storm damage and fires, and locate people and animals. This list is ever-growing as we develop the potential of this versatile technology. There a section on drone racing, and concerns about drone safety and misuse are considered. Finally there is discussion about future uses.
The design of the book is excellent. The spreads have strong visual impact with photographs and diagrams. Boxes of text give accessible information with effective use of headlines. There is a glossary, a list of useful sites and books for further research and an index.
This is an important book about a rapidly developing area of technology that is infiltrating all our lives. It is exciting, inspiring and relevant. Highly recommended for anyone aged 8+ There is a companion book in the series on AI – Artificial Intelligence.
Brenda Marshall