Google has bought Titan Aerospace, a maker of solar-powered drones, saying it could help bring Internet access to remote parts of the world as well as solve other problems.
Financial terms were not disclosed. Google Inc. said Monday that atmospheric satellites could also be used in disaster relief and assessing environmental damage.
Titan’s atmospheric satellites, which are still in development and not yet commercially available, can stay in the air for as long as five years, according to reports. Titan’s website cites a wide range of uses for the drones, including atmospheric and weather monitoring, disaster response and voice and data communications.
Facebook Inc. was also in talks to buy Titan earlier this year, but it acquired U.K.-based solar drone company Ascenta instead.
Associated Press