Google has asked the Federal Communications Commission for permission to conduct tests on drones that could eventually be used to deliver Internet access to remote areas.
"Google recently acquired Titan Aerospace, a firm that specializes in developing solar and electric unmanned aerial systems ('UAS') for high altitude, long endurance flights," Google wrote Friday in a request that the FCC keep most testing details confidential. "These systems may eventually be used to provide Internet connections in remote areas or help monitor environmental damage, such as oil spills or deforestation. The STA [Special Temporary Authority] is needed for demonstration and testing of [REDACTED] in a carefully controlled environment."
Google bought Titan in April, with plans to integrate the company into Project Loon, Google's initiative to deliver Internet access from balloons to parts of the world with limited connectivity. Google is also reportedly planning to deploy low-orbit satellites to provide Internet access. Titan's drones are powered by solar energy and can stay aloft for up to five years, as we reported in a profile on the company last year.Google wants permission to carry out its drone tests for 180 days beginning Oct. 6, 2014. The coordinates point to a test site "in a square east of Albuquerque and south of Santa Fe, New Mexico, centered roughly on the unincorporated community of Stanley," consulting engineer Steven Crowley noted in a blog post on Google's application.
Google would transmit at frequencies from 910MHz to 927MHz and from 2.4GHz to 2.414 GHz. Exactly what Google will be transmitting was redacted from the public version of the document. Google declined to comment on its application.
Google told the FCC that it will be able to avoid interfering with other known users of the spectrum. The 2.4GHz spectrum "overlap[s] the lower channels of Wi-Fi," Crowley wrote.
The 900MHz spectrum is used by wireless Internet service providers, smart meters, toll readers, baby monitors, and other devices. There are plans to use the 900MHz spectrum for enhanced 911 location service, but Google's application noted that this has not started yet.
"Google understands that there may be some federal operations in the 900 MHz band in the vicinity of the test site," Google wrote. "Google is prepared to coordinate with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to avoid harmful interference to any federal operations."
Unmanned flight is all the rage at Google. In what is apparently a separate project, the company is also reportedly developing a drone-based product delivery service.
reader comments
24