The drone to take Internet to remote areas – El Nuevo Diario

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 it had finished building the first such full-scale drones

Conceived in the UK and baptized “Aquila”, is essentially a huge carbon fiber wing of a similar wingspan of a Boeing 737, but with a lower weight of a small car, not 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 gigabyte per second, ten times the most advanced of the current laser “said Yael Maguire, an engineer at the helm of” Connectivity Lab “, the Facebook team 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, US east coast.).

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

“There are many parts that need move hand in hand to ensure that this works, “said Yael Maguire, adding that the result seems” a frame Internet laser in the sky “.

For balloon
 The team plans to test before the end of the year, probably in the United States.

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 means to 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 as part of a mobile application giving access to a “light” version of the network of networks, with some online services considered basic. Zambia was the first country to benefit.

Who?

 According to Facebook’s engineers, the network articulated by drones would all 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, but their costs are higher as well.

“Our goal is provide technology to other partners “as communication operators or governments, Jay Parikh said, according to the network who considers herself not operate that network, although it invests in research.

Like other Loon projects such as Google, which considers, among other possibilities, using balloons instead of drones, it is likely that the system will not be operational before a few years.

Parikh said “enormous” obstacles to cross such as improving the autonomy of drones, currently only two weeks, for three months of flight.

And in terms of regulation “are still in uncharted territory,” he acknowledged Yael Maguire, revealing that Under current conditions, it would take a person to monitor each drone, although “no support in the industry to try to loosen it.”