Facebook is abandoning plans to develop solar-powered drones that beam down internet access to remote regions of the world, the company has confirmed.
The drones, dubbed Project Aquila, have been unable to achieve the long flight times that rivals such as Google have managed with similar aircraft, the BBC reports.
One of Facebook’s development drone also suffered a broken wing as it came into land during testing.
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In a blog post yesterday, the company’s engineering chief, Yael Maguire, said: “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.
“Given these developments, we’ve decided not to design or build our own aircraft any longer.”
Maguire confirmed that Facebook’s development facility in Bridgwater, Somerset, would close.
Project Aquila had reportedly experienced “significant internal turmoil” over its four-year lifespan, including the departure of Andrew Cox, a key engineer in the operation, says Gizmodo.
However, while the company is no longer trying to develop internet drones in-house, Project Aquila will continue through the tech giant’s partners, including French aerospace firm Airbus, reports The Verge.
