Facebook Planning To Test Jet-Sized Drones
- 10 years ago
Facebook announced its plans to fill in the world’s Internet access gaps using jet-sized drones.
Facebook’s goal to fill in the world’s Internet access gaps is no secret, but their latest idea on how to achieve this is lofty to say the least.
To provide connectivity to areas of the world that have none, they’ll be delivering free Wi-Fi via thousands of jet-sized drones, although the company refers to them as planes.
It’s said to be both a revision and an expansion of their original idea, which was to do pretty much the same thing but with much smaller autonomous crafts.
Facebook’s initial strategy is believed to have hinged on their acquisition of Titan Aerospace, a drone manufacturer.
That company ended up being bought by Google instead, which may be why Facebook came up with this much more ambitious alternative.
One of the project’s engineers shared some details about the endeavor at a summit in New York.
Among the most attention-getting aspects of his reveal are that the crafts will be the size of 747s and soar about 17 miles up in the air.
Huge as they are, they’ll likely only weigh about the equivalent of four car tires.
Given their altitude, weather and air traffic aren’t concerns although regulatory issues have yet to be worked out. They’ll stay powered for years on end by using the latest in solar and battery technology.
Testing begins in 2015 and it’s anticipated the planes will be up and operational within 5 years.
Facebook’s goal to fill in the world’s Internet access gaps is no secret, but their latest idea on how to achieve this is lofty to say the least.
To provide connectivity to areas of the world that have none, they’ll be delivering free Wi-Fi via thousands of jet-sized drones, although the company refers to them as planes.
It’s said to be both a revision and an expansion of their original idea, which was to do pretty much the same thing but with much smaller autonomous crafts.
Facebook’s initial strategy is believed to have hinged on their acquisition of Titan Aerospace, a drone manufacturer.
That company ended up being bought by Google instead, which may be why Facebook came up with this much more ambitious alternative.
One of the project’s engineers shared some details about the endeavor at a summit in New York.
Among the most attention-getting aspects of his reveal are that the crafts will be the size of 747s and soar about 17 miles up in the air.
Huge as they are, they’ll likely only weigh about the equivalent of four car tires.
Given their altitude, weather and air traffic aren’t concerns although regulatory issues have yet to be worked out. They’ll stay powered for years on end by using the latest in solar and battery technology.
Testing begins in 2015 and it’s anticipated the planes will be up and operational within 5 years.