Allegiance Academy

Ships - Drone

Drones are purchased in the same manner as miners, but their base price is $1500.
A maximum of four (this number is determined in the server settings, and usually set to four. It is equal to the number of miners and mine layers) drone constructors may be out at any time. Unlimited numbers of drones may be deployed.
Drones layer are AI controlled, like miners.
Drone layers deploy anywhere in space. Once deployed, they can no longer move nor redeploy They are usually deployed at alephs.
Drones will automatically fire at any enemy in range with great accuracy.
Some drones have unlimited ammo, others not.
Drones are destroyed like any other ship.

Drones are generally deployed directly in an aleph, just like caltrops. That way, enemy ships cannot avoid passing near them.
Drones are generally deployed in combination with a minefield. Multiple drones can be deployed in a single aleph if it seems justified.
Placing drones and caltrops basically obeys the same laws. If an important station is in the sector, mine/drone the alephs leading inside that sector.
Mines and drones are also useful if the enemy uses stealth ships (including TP scouts and HTTs) to get past your defenses and attack you deep within your territory. They serve as detectors as well as defenders, but cloaks or sufficient signature reduction can be used to remain undetected.
Placing mines and drones deep within your territory, between two of your secure sectors, can prove useful as it surprises enemy stealth ships assuming that all alephs within enemy territory are secure.