Drones are humanitarian, misnamed, says General Atomics

The United Kingdom is holding a select committee inquiry into remote-controlled warfare. San Diego's General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, the big drone-maker, submitted a paper, complaining that the word "drone" has pejorative connotations. Indeed, that word "belies their proven beneficial role in humanitarian crises," says the company.

Drones can be used in search-and-rescue, drug enforcement, border control, and surveillance, says General Atomics, pointing out the peaceful purposes, according to The Guardian. But a human rights group named Reprieve asks "Should a firm which produces armed, flying robots with names like Predator and Reaper really be surprised that they are not considered to be humanitarian by the public?"