History Main / DroneDeployer

* ''LightNovel/RebuildWorld'': When Akira is on an EscortMission of a BigBadassRig convoy through the wasteland, a group of FlyingSaucer MechanicalMonster attack drones attack from above. Designed for airspace control by the Old World NeglectfulPrecursors, the smaller drones are launched out of a huge saucer mother ship which has ChameleonCamouflage but still gives off a huge shadow. It has a huge WaveMotionGun it shoots out the bottom for artillery support.

** ''Franchise/SpiderMan'': The minor enemy Armada wears a suit of armor carrying many little flying robots he can send out to do his bidding. The interesting thing is that he ''cares'' about their welfare, and freaks out when they inevitably get destroyed by heroes who assume they are JustAMachine. Note that it's never clear whether the little robots actually ''are'' self-aware, or if Armada is just crazy.
** ''ComicBook/XMen'' had the Master Mold, a giant Sentinel production plant shaped like a Sentinel. Master Mold also has the ability to summon and control Sentinels from anywhere, which made it a bad thing that it went kill-crazy against mankind ''AND'' mutantkind.

* {{Autodoc}} / LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe: Constantly healing and/or shielding the deployer and their allies, requiring that [[ShootTheMedicFirst the drones be taken out first]] before attacking the deployer.

* The main functional difference of the real-life examples compared to fictional ones is that real-life ones tend to be much louder.

[[caption-width-right:350:''Say hello to my little friends!'']]

* {{Autodoc}}: Constantly healing and/or shielding the deployer and their allies, requiring that [[ShootTheMedicFirst the drones be taken out first]] before attacking the deployer.

* ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert2'' and ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert3'': The Allies' Aircraft Carrier deploys attack drones. Unlike the other heavy ships, the drones are able to go after moving targets with some degree of accuracy, but can be shot down with enough AntiAir (although the carrier still sends out the same amount no matter how many died in the last wave).

** ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam00'' has various mobile suits that use Fangs and Bits, including the Throne Zwei, Cherudim, Arche, and Reborns Gundams. The series takes UpToEleven by the Gadelaza, a cruiser-sized Mobile Armor whose main offensive technique is launching 154 {{Attack Drone}}s and shooting the enemy from [[BeamSpam every conceivable direction at once]]. It has a couple of weapons mounted on the main unit, but it rarely ever needs to use them.

* ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert3'': The Allies' Aircraft Carrier deploys Sky Knight attack drones. Unlike the other two heavy ships, the drones are able to go after moving targets with some degree of accuracy, but the drones can be shot down with enough AntiAir (although the carrier still sends out the same amount no matter how many died in the last wave).

** The Arbiter, also unique to the first game, which can instantly summon a group of units to its location.

** Figurines of Wondrous Power, depending on the type, can turn into creatures such as elephants, tracking dogs or giant goats that perform tasks (including fighting).

* ''TabletopGame/{{Traveller}}'': The Imperial fleet has several carrier types which carry various amounts of fighters, including the Skimkish class light carrier and the Wind class strike carrier (both 80 fighters) and the Antiama class fleet carrier (300 fighters). Other major ships can also carry fighters, such as the Tigress class dreadnaught (300 fighters).
* In ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'', most Tau vehicles have drones that can pop free of their weapon mounts.

* In the ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' fanfic, ''Fanfic/ToTheStars'', there is an inverted example: Patrica can make drones... using magic.

* ''VideoGame/MegaManClassic'': Pipis are robotic birds that carry and drop eggs that, if they hit the ground, break into eight or so mini-birds, which then fly at Mega Man. Honey Woman is also able to do this with her robot bees in ''VideoGame/MegaMan9'' when she is fought as a boss, and when Mega Man defeats her, he can [[PowerCopying do the same]] with the "Bee Chaser". Mega Man can use this to grab things that are out of his reach.
** The fanmade ''VideoGame/MegaManRockNRoll'' has this with the Beetle Drone. Beetle Woman uses this as her weapon, and gives the power to Mega Man when she is defeated.

* ''VideoGame/MegaManClassic'': Pipis are robotic birds that carry and drop eggs that, if they hit the ground, break into eight or so mini-birds, which then fly at Mega Man. Honey Woman is also able to do this with her robot bees in ''VideoGame/MegaMan9'' when she is fought as a boss, and when Mega Man defeats her, he can do the same with the "Bee Chaser". Mega Man can use this to grab things that are out of his reach.

* ''VideoGame/MegaManClassic'': Pipis are robotic birds that carry and drop eggs that, if they hit the ground, break into eight or so mini-birds, which then fly at Mega Man.

* SurveillanceDrone: Searches the area and immediately alerting the deployer to the presence of any intruder or enemy. They can be taken out stealthily if possible.

* ''VideoGame/PlantsVsZombiesGardenWarfare'': the [[LongRangeFighter Cactus]] and TheEngineer deploy [[AttackDrone Garlic and Zombot drones]] respectively, which [[CosmeticallyDifferentSides function identically]][[labelnote:*]]though they can be swapped out for alternate drones that attack differently from each other[[/labelnote]]. Cactus controls hers [[OrganicTechnology via a flower on her head that functions like an antenna]], while the Engineer uses a handheld joystick. Unlike other examples, there is no in-universe explanation for where these are stored, aside from {{Hammerspace}}. In ''Garden Warfare 2'', this role is given to [[{{Pirate}} Captain Deadbeard]] instead of the Engineer. Since Deadbeard's "drone" is his [[Cyborg cybernetically-enhanced]] PirateParrot, he obviously keeps it on his shoulder.

* ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'': Many incarnations of Soundwave have him carrying cassettes that transform into robots, such as Laserbeak.

* ''VideoGame/StarTrekOnline'' features several carriers, ranging from the Klingon ''Vo'Quv'' to the Voth ''Bastion'' flight-deck cruiser. The game breaks them into full carriers (two hangar bays, fewer bridge officer slots) and hybrids (more capable on their own, one hangar bay). Also the ''Odyssey''-class and ''[=Bortasqu'=]''-class feature unique consoles that allow them to separate a section of their geometry that acts independently and is also available as a ship on its own (respectively the ''Aquarius''-class destroyer and ''[=HoH'SuS=]''-class bird of prey).

* ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert3'': The Allies' Aircraft Carrier deploys skynight attack drones.

* In ''Anime/DigimonUniverseApplimonsters'', Charismon is able to deploy swarms of eyeball-themed drones from the eyes on his armor. He first uses them to [[SurveillanceDrone to spy on the Appli-Drivers]], then uses them [[AttackDrone in battle]], where they fire lasers and create DeflectorShields.

* ''Film/T{{ransformers}}'':

** ''VideoGame/AceCombat7SkiesUnknown'' has the Arsenal Bird, a massive autonomous aerial battleship that carries not only drones, but also [[BeamSpam tactical lasers]] and launchers that can deploy both standard Anti-aircraft missiles and Helios airburst warheads. On top of all of this, it has automated repair systems and receives its power from the "[[SpaceElevator Lighthouse]]" that it guards via microwave energy, meaning that it, and its drones, can stay aloft indefinitely with only the occasional supply shuttle to top off its ammunition and repair supplies.