The New Drones is a multimedia project that tells the story of the emerging utilitarian uses for autonomous robotic aircraft in the United States. One character, Gustavo Ruiz, uses cheap, simple aircraft to create data-rich maps used to inform farmers about crop conditions. Another, Gene Robinson, uses unmanned aircraft to solve missing persons cases across the country. Both of them are helping to usher in a new era of technology that has the potential to change the skies above us forever.