Australian scientists have developed the world's first automatic landing system for unmanned drones.

The Queensland University's Australian Research Center for Aerospace Automation (ARCAA) made the breakthrough which will allow the drones and other automatic planes weighing less than 20 kilograms to map terrain to identify emergency landing spots and then land on their own.

ARCAA director Duncan Campbell said it will help the planned operation of unmanned aircraft in disaster recovery efforts.

He said researchers had been working on the system for a number of years.

"It's a world first for small, unmanned aircrafts," Campbell said.

Queensland emergency services are planning use such drones in bushfires, cyclones and other disaster zones.