The Guardian newspaper is reporting that Google is conducting secret flight experiments in Truth or Consequences New Mexico to test the ability of solar powered drones to deliver high speed internet access from the air.
The Guardian learned of the project, code-named Skybender, from documents obtained under public records law.
Google is operating out of a hanger leased from Virgin Galactica at Spaceport America at a cost of $1.000 a day.
The article reports that the tech giant “has built several prototype transceivers at the isolated spaceport last summer, and is testing them with multiple drones, according to documents obtained under public records laws. . . The SkyBender system is being tested with an “optionally piloted” aircraft called Centaur as well as solar-powered drones made by Google Titan, a division formed when Google acquired New Mexico startup Titan Aerospace in 2014. Titan built high-altitude solar-powered drones with wingspans of up to 50 metres.”
You can read the full article here.
Frank Schroth is editor in chief of DroneLife, the authoritative source for news and analysis on the drone industry: it’s people, products, trends, and events.
Email Frank
TWITTER:@fschroth