Facebook expand Internet access in the world with drones powered by solar panels

Facebook has announced that it wants to use drones to bring Internet to areas that do not yet have access. The machine must be empowered through solar panels that allow them to hold a charge.

In August 2013 born Internet.org, a partnership between - including - Facebook and six companies that specialize in mobile (Samsung, Ericsson, MediaTek, Nokia, Opera Software and Qualcomm). The Internet. Org goal is to provide Internet access to people who do not, offering effective and affordable solutions. But Facebook seems to use a rather original way to achieve its objectives, a solution that combines drones and solar panels.

Autonomous UAVs
Facebook would like to send its aircraft in areas that do not yet have Internet access. They fly at an altitude of 20,000 meters, which allow them to be less exposed to hazards (weather and flying vehicles). UAVs could stay in the air for long periods pendants by solar panels that would charge the battery during the day, which would take place during the night. The project may seem a little crazy, but Facebook does not launch into the unknown without knowing where it is going.

NASA but not Titan
Indeed, the social network is working with aerospace experts, including some NASA and with Ascenta, a company specializing in UAV powered by solar panels. The objectives of Facebook seem to measure and flying machines are not a simple fad Mark Zuckerberg. Attention, it should be noted that, for this project, the social network does not seem to appeal to Titan, the company recently acquired by Facebook which would ' create its own drones .

The optical free space communication
We have machines: drones. But how they will they provide Internet access? The devices use the optical free space communication (or FOS), a process which takes advantage of the properties of the propagation of light in free space - space refers to elements such as air or a vacuum, as opposed to space material as the optical fiber or a cable transmission. More precisely, the UAVs use infrared lasers. In less populated areas, use Facebook satellites which will also be based on the FSO. Technology should allow similar to those offered by the optical fiber performance.

At the moment, no date has been announced for a possible implementation of these web drones. The question of the economic model adopted may also arise because, if the technology is expensive to implement, it is not intended for the world's richest regions. Facebook and Internet.org probably give us more details in the coming months (and years ahead). Meanwhile, Google has already started to develop the Internet in Africa through its airships !