Facebook's Chief Technology Officer, Mike Schroepfer, talking about Facebook's drone program.
"The idea of this," Facebook's chief technology officer, Mike Schroepfer, told an audience at F8, "is to loiter across an area at very high altitude -- 60,000 to 90,000 feet in the air -- stand on station for months at a time and beam down backbone Internet access."
The use of solar energy could help with the aspirations to keep the aircraft aloft for "months at a time." The earlier prototype Solar Impulse aircraft charged its batteries as it flew during the day and then drew on that energy to keep flying through the night. But aircraft with pilots aboard can quickly run into the limitations of human endurance.
Drones are another matter. In 2010, a lightweight, solar-powered unmanned aircraft called the Qinetiq Zephyr set a remarkable world record, flying nonstop for just over 336 hours -- that is, two full weeks.
By comparison, Boeing has been test-flying, in short spurts, a liquid hydrogen-powered unmanned aircraft called the Phantom Eye that it wants eventually to be capable of four days of unrefueled autonomous flight. Northrop Grumman's remotely piloted Global Hawk has flown for as long as 34 hours.
Movie - Facebook CTO talks up solar-powered drones
It looks a very interesting try. But is it cost-effective? In the process it is realized, there will be many problems like flight regulation, harmfulness to human body by its electromagnetic wave and interference of electric wave. But I believe a fearless challenge like this can change the world. Go ahead on your way Facebook.
Source - CNET : Facebook wants solar drone to bring Internet far and wide
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