Drones (unmanned vehicles), as a buzzword, have become the newest means of transport of explosives.

At first glance, the story of explosives may appear to be a very limited subject, with little interest other than its connection to war activities, rather than “a difficult study of not insignificant scope.” From the outset, however, it must be emphasized that even a purely technical review of the subject reveals the fact, which is at the same time enlightening and encouraging, that in times of peace the production of explosives, although very large, is expended chiefly for civil purposes. Again, the destructive misuse of explosives in war must put their constituent customs at peace: these customs, as the sequel will show, are surprisingly large. The construction of the Panama Canal, which would have been impractical without the aid of the powerful explosives developed in modern times.

John Read – Explosives