Presentation. Giant drone is constructed of carbon fiber and is similar to a Boeing scale. – LaCapital.com.ar

Aquila shaped wing, weighs almost 500 kilos and is complemented with laser beams, in a daring project of the technology giant.

Access the Internet through a network of solar drones and laser, a little crazy project of Facebook, begins to take shape: the American social network announced that it had finished building the first of these drones to scale.

Designed in the UK and named Aquila, is essentially a huge wing carbon fiber wingspan similar to that of a Boeing 737, but with a lower weight of a small car, no more than 450 kilos including communications equipment.

“Another important step” has been crossed in parallel with the design lab system “laser communications that can reach tens of gigagbyte per second, ten times more than the most advanced laser current,” said Yael Maguire, an engineer at the helm of “Connectivity Lab” team Facebook in charge of research on new means of accessing the Internet, during a presentation at the group’s headquarters in Menlo Park (Palo Alto, California).

These laser could reach a coin 10 cents to 18 kilometers away, precision is necessary because Facebook wants to use them to unite the ground communication equipment with drones flying at altitude (between 60,000 and 90,000 feet, 18 to 27 kilometers), and between these, creating a true network.

“There are many parts that must move in concert to ensure that this works,” said Yael Maguire, adding that the result seems “a framework of Internet laser in the sky. “

Launch. The team plans to test before year-end. The drone will be launched from a balloon so you can leave quickly and easily airspace using conventional transport devices. Once it reaches its cruising altitude, evolve in circles until a relatively stable position, from which it will cover a ground area of ​​about 50 kilometers in diameter.

The drones are only one of the means that Facebook plans to extend the Internet coverage to 10% of the world population still lack access, particularly in emerging countries with an initiative called Internet.org.

Last year the network launched in the framework of applicable mobile tion that led to a” light “version of the network of networks, with some online services considered basic. Zambia was the first country to benefit.

According to Facebook’s engineers, the network articulated by drones give full internet access. The devices serve especially in suburban and rural areas and could “quickly provide connectivity area in need” after a natural disaster, for example, as explained Jay Parikh, Facebook vice president in charge of engineering aspects.

In less populated areas, the group considers the possibility of using satellites whose coverage is more extensive than the drones and costs, also higher

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