Google-parent Alphabet's drone project may not soar after all
- by Carmen Reese
- in Science
- — Jan 13, 2017
Unfortunately, it doesn't look like the project will be getting off the ground as Alphabet (Google's parent company) confirmed today that it has cancelled the project.
The only other company still trying to create an internet-emitting solar drone is Facebook, which has faced its own share of adversity with its Aquila drone after that aircraft crashed on its first test flight. The studies found that at, this time, Project Loon presents a much more promising way to connect remote parts of the world. Now, the Titan internet drone project has been terminated. We ended our exploration of high-altitude UAVs for internet access shortly after.
The high-flying drone producer seemingly had a lot to offer the tech giant, including the potential to expand Project Loon, its balloon-based plan to develop low-priced internet access to remote rural areas. But with the simultaneous proliferation of drones and solar power, it's hard to image these two pieces technology stay apart forever.
The move is the latest step on the company's effort to cut back its ambitious "moonshot" projects, which is said to drain Alphabet in terms of key resources and manpower. It's still investing in Project Loon, which sends balloons to the edge of space to beam internet to the land below.
Google wanted to use them as "atmospheric satellites" that could bring internet access to millions, aid with disaster relief and even combat environmental damage like deforestation. Another, dubbed Titan and using fixed-wing solar-powered drones, isn't so lucky, as 9to5Google reports. The X division of the company made a decision to cancel the project, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the division.
Many of the Titan workers came from drone maker Titan Aerospace, which Google purchased in 2014. Alphabet pointed out that many specialists working on the Titan project were reassigned to work on new projects like Project Wing and Project Loon.
