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{{Hatnote|This article describes the various kinds of drones and explains how they work. <br>For a detailed discussion of the use of drones, including PvP and PvE tactics, see [[Drone mechanics]]. If you are looking for ships that carry drones, see [[Drone-capable ships]]. | |||
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'''Drones''' are semi-autonomous vehicles launched from ships and designed to augment the launching ship's capabilities. All four races use drones to a greater or lesser degree, so many ships, especially larger ships, will have drone capabilities. | '''Drones''' are semi-autonomous vehicles launched from ships and designed to augment the launching ship's capabilities. All four races use drones to a greater or lesser degree, so many ships, especially larger ships, will have drone capabilities. | ||
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== Drone basics == | == Drone basics == | ||
[[File:Drone control window.png|thumb|left | [[File:Drone control window.png|thumb|left|The drone control window, showing drones in the drone bay and drones in space.]] | ||
If you undock with drones in your drone bay, a new window for controlling drones will appear on your screen. Via this window, you can launch drones from your drone bay, give commands to them once they are in space, and recover them back into your drone bay. | If you undock with drones in your drone bay, a new window for controlling drones will appear on your screen. Via this window, you can launch drones from your drone bay, give commands to them once they are in space, and recover them back into your drone bay. | ||
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=== Drone bay === | === Drone bay === | ||
[[File:Tristan-get-info.png|thumb|left]] | [[File:Tristan-get-info.png|thumb|left]] | ||
A ship must have a drone bay to use drones. You can find out if a ship has a drone bay, and how big it is, by looking at the Attributes tab in its Show Info window. If it has a drone bay, it will tell you the drone bay's capacity in cubic meters ({{m3}}). The size of a ship's drone bay determines how many drones you can carry with you, ready to be launched into space; larger and more powerful drones take up more space in your drone bay. | A ship must have a drone bay to use drones. You can find out if a ship has a drone bay, and how big it is, by looking at the Attributes tab in its Show Info window. If it has a drone bay, it will tell you the drone bay's capacity in cubic meters ({{m3|ns}}). The size of a ship's drone bay determines how many drones you can carry with you, ready to be launched into space; larger and more powerful drones take up more space in your drone bay. | ||
{{example|The [[Tristan]] has a 40 | {{example|The [[Tristan]] has a 40{{m3}} drone bay, which means it can carry up to eight light drones (which take up 5{{m3}} each), or four medium drones (10{{m3}} each), or a combination of the two (e.g. two medium and four light drones).}} | ||
The size of your ship's drone bay is fixed and cannot be enlarged using modules or skills. Only drones can be carried in a drone bay; it cannot be used to carry other cargo. While you can carry drones in your cargo bay, you can only use them if they are in the drone bay. You can only move drones in or out of your drone bay while docked at a station, or by using a ship/structure with a fitting service (e.g. a [[Mobile Depot]] or a [[Capital Ship]]). | The size of your ship's drone bay is fixed and cannot be enlarged using modules or skills. Only drones can be carried in a drone bay; it cannot be used to carry other cargo. While you can carry drones in your cargo bay, you can only use them if they are in the drone bay. You can only move drones in or out of your drone bay while docked at a station, or by using a ship/structure with a fitting service (e.g. a [[Mobile Depot]] or a [[Capital Ship]]). | ||
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The other important ship attribute is its "bandwidth". This is the ship's ability to control drones in space and is measured in Mbit/sec. You can only deploy as many drones as you have available bandwidth on your ship, and bigger drones require more bandwidth. Your ship's bandwidth is fixed and is not affected by skills or modules. | The other important ship attribute is its "bandwidth". This is the ship's ability to control drones in space and is measured in Mbit/sec. You can only deploy as many drones as you have available bandwidth on your ship, and bigger drones require more bandwidth. Your ship's bandwidth is fixed and is not affected by skills or modules. | ||
Many ships (and especially [[Drone Capable Ships|dedicated drone ships]]) can carry many more drones in their drone bays than they can deploy at once; this allows them to selectively deploy different types of drones, or to replace drones that are destroyed in combat. With the exception of [[fighters]] (which are only used by capital ships) and special limited edition drones, a drone's bandwidth requirements (in Mbit/sec) is always the same number as its volume (in {{m3}}). | Many ships (and especially [[Drone Capable Ships|dedicated drone ships]]) can carry many more drones in their drone bays than they can deploy at once; this allows them to selectively deploy different types of drones, or to replace drones that are destroyed in combat. With the exception of [[fighters]] (which are only used by capital ships) and special limited edition drones, a drone's bandwidth requirements (in Mbit/sec) is always the same number as its volume (in{{m3}}). | ||
However, irrespective of your ship's bandwidth, you can only have as many drones in space at once as you have levels in the {{sk|Drones}} skill which allows up to 5 drones at level V. (The only exception to this limit is the very rare [[Guardian-Vexor]] cruiser.) This means that with high bandwidth you might be able to deploy five heavy or five light drones, while with lower bandwidth you may only be able to put out five of the light ones. | However, irrespective of your ship's bandwidth, you can only have as many drones in space at once as you have levels in the {{sk|Drones}} skill which allows up to 5 drones at level V. (The only exception to this limit is the very rare [[Guardian-Vexor]] cruiser.) This means that with high bandwidth you might be able to deploy five heavy or five light drones, while with lower bandwidth you may only be able to put out five of the light ones. | ||
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[[File:icon_bracket_drone.png|22px|Light drones|link=|Light drones]]'''{{co|wheat|Light drones}}''': | [[File:icon_bracket_drone.png|22px|Light drones|link=|Light drones]]'''{{co|wheat|Light drones}}''': | ||
* Use 5 | * Use 5{{m3}} space and 5 Mbit/sec bandwidth | ||
* Move and track targets very quickly | * Move and track targets very quickly | ||
* Are the best drones to use against [[File:icon_white_frigate.png|16px|link=]]frigates and [[File:icon_white_destroyer.png|16px|link=]]destroyers | * Are the best drones to use against [[File:icon_white_frigate.png|16px|link=]]frigates and [[File:icon_white_destroyer.png|16px|link=]]destroyers | ||
[[File:icon_bracket_drone.png|22px|link=|Medium drones]]'''{{co|wheat|Medium drones}}''': | [[File:icon_bracket_drone.png|22px|link=|Medium drones]]'''{{co|wheat|Medium drones}}''': | ||
* Use 10 | * Use 10{{m3}} space and 10 Mbit/sec bandwidth | ||
* Move and track moderately quickly | * Move and track moderately quickly | ||
* Are the best drones to use against [[File:icon_white_cruiser.png|16px|link=]]cruisers, and are also good against [[File:icon_white_battlecruiser.png|16px|link=]]battlecruisers | * Are the best drones to use against [[File:icon_white_cruiser.png|16px|link=]]cruisers, and are also good against [[File:icon_white_battlecruiser.png|16px|link=]]battlecruisers | ||
[[File:icon_bracket_drone.png|22px|Heavy drones|link=]]'''{{co|wheat|Heavy drones}}''': | [[File:icon_bracket_drone.png|22px|Heavy drones|link=]]'''{{co|wheat|Heavy drones}}''': | ||
* Use 25 | * Use 25{{m3}} space and 25 Mbit/sec bandwidth | ||
* Move and track slowly, but do lots of damage | * Move and track slowly, but do lots of damage | ||
* Are good against [[File:icon_white_battleship.png|16px|link=]]battleships, and can handle [[File:icon_white_battlecruiser.png|16px|link=]]battlecruisers | * Are good against [[File:icon_white_battleship.png|16px|link=]]battleships, and can handle [[File:icon_white_battlecruiser.png|16px|link=]]battlecruisers | ||
[[File:icon_bracket_sentry_drone.png|22px|Sentry drones|link=]]'''{{co|wheat|Sentry drones}}''': | [[File:icon_bracket_sentry_drone.png|22px|Sentry drones|link=]]'''{{co|wheat|Sentry drones}}''': | ||
* Use 25 | * Use 25{{m3}} space and 25 Mbit/sec bandwidth | ||
* Do not move in space | * Do not move in space | ||
* Can hit targets at long ranges, but have poor tracking, and so will have difficulty against close or fast targets | * Can hit targets at long ranges, but have poor tracking, and so will have difficulty against close or fast targets | ||
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=== Salvage drones === | === Salvage drones === | ||
{{see also|Salvaging}} | {{see also|Salvaging}} | ||
Salvage drones work like Salvager modules, and extract salvage from the wrecks of destroyed ships. The Salvage Drone I and II need 5 {{m3}} of drone bay space and 5 Mbit/s of bandwidth (like a light combat drone). They have a lower chance to salvage wrecks than the salvager modules (3% and 4% base access difficulty, compared with 5% and 7% for the Tech 1 and Tech 2 modules, respectively). This can be increased by training {{sk|Salvage Drone Operation|icon=yes}} and {{sk|Salvage Drone Specialization|icon=yes}}, allowing them (if trained to level V) to salvage any wreck. Their chance to salvage cannot be improved by other skills, or by modules, rigs, or implants. Just like for salvager modules, salvage drones do not loot wrecks; if a wreck containing loot is salvaged, the loot is left in a container in space. | Salvage drones work like Salvager modules, and extract salvage from the wrecks of destroyed ships. The Salvage Drone I and II need 5{{m3}} of drone bay space and 5 Mbit/s of bandwidth (like a light combat drone). They have a lower chance to salvage wrecks than the salvager modules (3% and 4% base access difficulty, compared with 5% and 7% for the Tech 1 and Tech 2 modules, respectively). This can be increased by training {{sk|Salvage Drone Operation|icon=yes}} and {{sk|Salvage Drone Specialization|icon=yes}}, allowing them (if trained to level V) to salvage any wreck. Their chance to salvage cannot be improved by other skills, or by modules, rigs, or implants. Just like for salvager modules, salvage drones do not loot wrecks; if a wreck containing loot is salvaged, the loot is left in a container in space. | ||
Salvage drones can automatically salvage any nearby (up to the edge of the player's drone control range) wrecks, as long as they belong to the player or their fleet/corporation. Additionally, they can be specifically ordered to salvage wrecks belonging to other players (marked in yellow on the [[overview]]), although this must be done manually for each wreck. When a drone successfully salvages a wreck, it will return to your ship to drop off the salvage (into your ship's cargo bay) before immediately heading back out into space. Salvage drones have an MWD that is always running, but are still very slow (about 10% slower than the slowest heavy drone), so salvaging more distant wrecks may take some time. | Salvage drones can automatically salvage any nearby (up to the edge of the player's drone control range) wrecks, as long as they belong to the player or their fleet/corporation. Additionally, they can be specifically ordered to salvage wrecks belonging to other players (marked in yellow on the [[overview]]), although this must be done manually for each wreck. When a drone successfully salvages a wreck, it will return to your ship to drop off the salvage (into your ship's cargo bay) before immediately heading back out into space. Salvage drones have an MWD that is always running, but are still very slow (about 10% slower than the slowest heavy drone), so salvaging more distant wrecks may take some time. | ||
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=== Mining drones === | === Mining drones === | ||
{{See also|Drone mechanics#Mining drones|l1= Drone Mechanics: Mining Drones|ORE Basic Ship and Skill Guide#Drones|l2= Ore Ship Guide: Mining Drones}} | |||
As their name suggests, these drones [[mining|mine]] [[Asteroids and ore|ore from asteroids]]. | As their name suggests, these drones [[mining|mine]] [[Asteroids and ore|ore from asteroids]]. | ||
Mining drones will mine the targeted asteroid for one cycle (60 seconds), then return to your ship, drop off the mined ore (into your cargo bay or mining hold), and fly back to the asteroid to continue mining. Despite these drones having a MWD that is always running, they are very slow (about half as fast as heavy combat drones), and therefore it's important to keep your ship as close as possible to the asteroid they are mining, to avoid losing too much time in transit. Training {{sk|Mining Drone Operation|icon=yes}} and {{sk|Drone Interfacing|icon=yes}} improves their mining yield, and training {{sk|Drone Navigation|icon=yes}} increases their speed. | Mining drones will mine the targeted asteroid for one cycle (60 seconds), then return to your ship, drop off the mined ore (into your cargo bay or mining hold), and fly back to the asteroid to continue mining. Despite these drones having a MWD that is always running, they are very slow (about half as fast as heavy combat drones), and therefore it's important to keep your ship as close as possible to the asteroid they are mining, to avoid losing too much time in transit. Training {{sk|Mining Drone Operation|icon=yes}} and {{sk|Drone Interfacing|icon=yes}} improves their mining yield, and training {{sk|Drone Navigation|icon=yes}} increases their speed. | ||
For comparison, a Miner I mining module can mine 40 | For comparison, a Miner I mining module can mine 40{{m3}}/min of ore. There are no mining drones for [[gas cloud harvesting]]. | ||
Much like a mining module, if the mining cycle is manually cut short (in this case, by ordering the drone to return), the drone will get the amount of ore mined proportionally to how much of the cycle was completed, but in other cases, progress will be canceled, including if the ship has no more room for the ore by the time they return. | Much like a mining module, if the mining cycle is manually cut short (in this case, by ordering the drone to return), the drone will get the amount of ore mined proportionally to how much of the cycle was completed, but in other cases, progress will be canceled, including if the ship has no more room for the ore by the time they return. | ||
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{| class="wikitable drones" | {| class="wikitable drones" | ||
! style="text-align: left;" | Drone | ! style="text-align: left;" | Drone | ||
! style="cursor: help;" | <span title="Volume required in drone bay (m3) and drone bandwidth required (MBit/s).">Volume/Bandwidth</span> | ! style="cursor: help;" | <span title="Volume required in drone bay ({{m3|ns}}) and drone bandwidth required (MBit/s).">Volume/Bandwidth</span> | ||
! style="cursor: help;" | <span title="Volume of ore mined per minute (m³/min).">Ore yield</span> | ! style="cursor: help;" | <span title="Volume of ore mined per minute (m³/min).">Ore yield</span> | ||
! style="cursor: help;" | <span title="Drone flight speed.">Speed</span> | ! style="cursor: help;" | <span title="Drone flight speed.">Speed</span> | ||
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{| class="wikitable drones" | {| class="wikitable drones" | ||
! style="text-align: left;" | Drone | ! style="text-align: left;" | Drone | ||
! style="cursor: help;" | <span title="Volume required in drone bay (m3) and drone bandwidth required (MBit/s).">Volume/Bandwidth</span> | ! style="cursor: help;" | <span title="Volume required in drone bay ({{m3|ns}}) and drone bandwidth required (MBit/s).">Volume/Bandwidth</span> | ||
! style="cursor: help;" | <span title="Time to mine 1,000 m3.">Cycle time</span> | ! style="cursor: help;" | <span title="Time to mine 1,000{{m3}}.">Cycle time</span> | ||
! style="cursor: help;" | <span title="Drone flight speed.">Speed</span> | ! style="cursor: help;" | <span title="Drone flight speed.">Speed</span> | ||
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|[[File:Module_icon_drone_rig.png|link=]] | |[[File:Module_icon_drone_rig.png|link=]] | ||
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{{See also|Fitting Modules and Rigs Guide#Rigs|l1= Rigs list}} | |||
Various rigs improve drones at the expense of the CPU of the ship. | Various rigs improve drones at the expense of the CPU of the ship. | ||
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* [https://www.eveonline.com/news/view/giving-drones-an-assist Dev blog: Giving Drones an Assist] (2014) | * [https://www.eveonline.com/news/view/giving-drones-an-assist Dev blog: Giving Drones an Assist] (2014) | ||
[[Category:Drones]] | |||
[[Category:Weapons]] | [[Category:Weapons]] | ||
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