Mark Zuckerberg, the Internet entrepreneur and co-founder of Facebook, recently announced that Aquila, Facebook’s solar-powdered Internet drone, is ready to take flight. Although the following months will involve plenty of tests, the unmanned plane, which boasts a 140-foot wingspan, will eventually provide Internet access to remote regions around the world.
The Facebook Drone That Will Bring The World Closer Together
In a video posted to his Facebook page, Zuckerberg introduced the craft, stating the following: “It has the wingspan of a Boeing 737, but weighs less than a car and can stay in the air for months at a time.” To do so, the plane relies on a laser, which will beam data to a base station located on the ground. The initative will ultimately rely on a system of drones, which will set up a linked network to bring Internet to largely rural areas.
The actual version of the Facebook drone was built in the United Kingdom, and Facebook, the immensely population online social networking service, plans to test it later this year in the United States. When operational, the plane will fly above commercial airplanes and glide down to its lowest point at night in order to conserve power. To keep its weight at a minimum, the craft was also designed without wheels and must therefore, be launched with the help of helium balloons.
Why is this Facebook drone so important? According to Zuckerberg, about 10% of the world’s population lives in regions with existing Internet infrastructure. The statistic seems unimaginable, especially for many of us who cannot leave the house without our smart phones in hand. However, in order to efficiently and affordably connect everyone, new technologies must be built to cater to that specific purpose.
This, apparently, is not a goal specific to just Facebook alone. The solar-powered plane faces competition from Google. The company has developed a similar program called “Project Loon,” which involves attaching transmitters to high-altitude helium balloon. The said balloons will also fly at similar altitudes, roughly around 60,000ft (18km) and 90,000 ft (27km) in the air.
The Facebook drone proves that technology is increasingly becoming more advanced. To see the latest in tech news and reviews, check out Clapway Trends:
Introducing Aquila: The Facebook Drone That Will Bring The World Internet
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