Image: Facebook
Facebook announced on Wednesday that it is ending its Aquila drone program after four years of development. Aquila was a high-altitude platform station (HAPS) system designed to deliver internet in remote locations. In part, the company points to increased industry interest in drone technologies as a reason for stepping away from Aquila.
“… It’s been exciting to see leading companies in the aerospace industry start investing in this technology too—including the design and construction of new high-altitude aircraft,” said Facebook’s Director of Engineering Yael Maguire. “Given these developments, we’ve decided not to design or build our own aircraft any longer, and to close our facility in Bridgwater, [U.K.].” Although it will no longer be developing its own drone, Facebook has said it will continue working on HAPS technology with partners like Airbus.
The solar-powered Aquila was designed to fly between 60,000 and 90,000 feet and to stay aloft for up to 90 days at a time, while providing broadband coverage to a 60-mile-wide area on the ground. The drone flew for the first time in 2016, during which the aircraft experienced a structural failure right before landing and sustained damage to the right wing. A second test flight was completed successfully in 2017.
