Google goes airborne

Google Is About To Start Testing Its Internet Drones

Later this year, Google will begin testing drones built by Titan, a company it recently acquired. It's part of Google's big dream of internet from the sky. This isn't a replacement for Google Loon, the project to send thousands of internet-streaming balloons into the straosphere, but rather a plan to complement and augment it.

Titan, which Google bought just under a year ago after a mini bidding war against Facebook, builds ultra-lightweight unmanned drones. The original plane, which has a 164-foot wingspan and measures 350-feet long-is entirely solar powered. Titan is now reportedly working on a helicopter-like version that would be capable of hovering in place, helping provide more consistent internet coverage from above.

As is the case with Project Loon, Google could use its drones to provide internet access during emergencies to places where it's been cut off. In these cases the company would partner with carriers to strengthen coverage in the area.