What does unpiloted mean?
Unpiloted is an adjective for an aircraft, vehicle, missile, or other machine that has no pilot aboard or whose operation is not controlled by a pilot. The term appears most often in aviation and military or space technology, where it distinguishes a human-flown system from one controlled autonomously, by a remote operator, or by software. In ordinary discussion, an unpiloted aircraft is often called a drone, although the formal word can cover a wider range of systems and is especially familiar in British English. The adjective can also be used figuratively for a project, process, or course of action that proceeds without human direction, though this use sounds more literary or metaphorical than technical. Because unpiloted does not necessarily mean empty, it may describe a passenger aircraft whose flight is conducted without an onboard pilot, as well as an experimental craft operated from the ground. The word is useful when the focus is not simply on the absence of crew but on whether a human pilot is actually controlling the machine.
adjectiveDenoting an aircraft, vehicle, missile, or similar object that has no pilot aboard or whose operation is not controlled by a pilot.
- Having no pilot aboard or not being controlled by a pilot, especially of an aircraft, spacecraft, vehicle, or missile.
"The company is testing an unpiloted aircraft over remote farmland."
"The company is testing an unpiloted aircraft over remote farmland."
"The prototype remains unpiloted, relying on an automated guidance system."
From radio-controlled aircraft to machines that can fly themselves, “unpiloted” captures one of aviation’s biggest shifts: technology taking over the cockpit.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does unpiloted come from?
The English adjective was formed by adding the prefix un- and the suffix -ed to the verb “pilot,” literally meaning “not piloted.” The base word entered Middle English through Old French pilote and Latin pilotus, ultimately deriving from Ancient Greek pēlotēs, meaning “helmsman” or “oarsman.” Related English forms include pilot, pilotage, and piloting.
How unpiloted is actually used
The word is most common in aviation, military technology, and space technology. It is especially familiar in British English; in American English, “unmanned aircraft” is often preferred. The term does not necessarily imply that a vehicle is empty, since it may carry passengers or cargo while being operated without an onboard pilot.