Aquila is first solar - powered unmanned aircraft, design and developed by facebook. The idea was come in the mind due to internet.orgcommitment. Intenet.org has promised to provide cost-effective internet to all community worldwide. Currently around 1.6 billion people don't have internet access which is 60% of the global population. As of now, remote areas are connected through the existing technologies like optical fibre, microwave links. Facebook has developed the Lab to build new technologies (aircraft, satellite and wireless communication system) to solve the connectivity problem. Now internet is affordable to hundreds of million people where it is harder to reach people.
Aquila has capable to circle a region up to 60 miles in a diameter for connectivity. It has designed in such a way that it can fly up to 3 month continuously at an altitude of more than 60,000 feet at a time using laser communication and millimetre wave system. Beam broadband will cover up to 60 mile- wide area on the ground. Aquila has been tested so many times with 1/5 of actual size. This time it was finally tested with full size. Before moving full-scale test it has been selected to test at low altitude. Small altitude test was successful. Then it goes for full test. Initially it was estimated for 30 minutes only, but later it goes to 90 minutes and it was successful mission. Aquila was tested with different parameters to test capacity of design, performance of autopilot, motors, batteries etc. At cruising speed it will consume only 5,000 watts - the same amount as three hair dryers, or a high-end microwave normally use.
Testing Aquila
To test the behaviours of the model below parameters should be taken care of:
Takeoff- Aquila has designed in such ways that don't have landing gear and it has optimized for minimal mass. At the takeoff time Aquila was attached to a dolly structure using four straps. It will speed up the takeoff. When plane will be reached at some height with right speed, automatically strap will be cut down using pyrotechnic cable cutter. Aquila has features for auto sensing. Autopilot will take care while flying the plane.
Aerodynamic model
Aquila has designed in such way to operate in environment like cold & warm. Computer model has been build based on computational fluid dynamics. It will help to understand required power. Facebook has tested with different parameter and result was come as expected.
Battery and power performance
Aquila contains solar cells as in power system. It has tested with 2000 W of power which was successful to fly the plane. The result was same as expected in prediction.
Autopilot performance model
Aquila has designed to control automatic when it's flying. It is capable to understand the how aircraft will works under aerodynamics or inertial loads. Result was successful as expected.
Real-world conditions
At starting so many tests has been tried to get the data. Data helps to analyse about performance, how it will responds to wind etc.
Challenges Ahead
The full-scale of test already has been completed for Aquila. At the testing time each and every day has come up with unique challenges. A challenge has given the idea to build and improve in a better way by using science, engineering and design.
Challenge #1 - Getting enough sun
Aquila is solar-power based automated aircraft. To work continue it requires energy to operate properly. Energy was collected from sun. The energy has to be requiring for payload, avionics, heaters, lights and communications. It has capable to charge the solar panel within short of time in winter season which can works up to 14 hrs.
Challenge #2 - Batteries
In the winter, to keep Aquila long life energy is very important. It's required a lot of energy to continue to functioning. Current and battery performance will be equal to half of the mass of the aircraft. The rest of Aquila's mass consisting of motor, payload, avionics and structure. Currently Facebook Is working for improved battery who can support maximum support to Aquila live long in the space.
Challenge #3 - Size and speed
Aquila has been tested in terms of speed and size. It's slower than another airplane in terms of speed. It is capable to fly with 25 mph speed as compared to other of the same in size. It has been tested in 25 mph at sea level as compared to 50 mph for a glider or more than 200 mph for a another aircraft. Continuous effort is going on to reach maximum of the speed in term of size.
Challenge #4 - New cost paradigms
To make Aquila as successful, industry expert is working with Facebook to minimise the network cost, manpower, functional cost etc. They also are working to reduce the damage cost in terms of maintenance. Facebook is continuously working hard to accelerate the development of new technology that can help to deploy the internet infrastructure.
A lot of experiment is going based on different parameter. They are also focusing on size, weight, power consumption to provide cost effective network infrastructure in upcoming days
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