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Facebook completes construction of first full-scale aircraft, Aquila [video]

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Re: Facebook completes construction of first full-scale aircraft, Aquila [video]

#11

Post by jaycroft »

josh2600 wrote: post #3

This is quite a thing. Does anyone know how they're achieving the 10gbps data rate? I'm wondering if they're doing something like vortex beam forming... http://www.gizmag.com/twisted-light-beam-data-transmission-v... and http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0030401809... (Although this article is about using a physical fiber).

They're likely not using something too exotic: 10Gbps free space optical links have been available commercially for a few years now (see products by AOptix). The tricky part is pointing them and getting the last bit of power on target. If they're actually forming links at 100's of km separation they're already on par with what APL was doing just 2 or 3 years ago [1]. Impressive that they not only have the data terminal to develop but have had the additional complication of building a new airframe as well.

Having worked on the pointing/tracking/acquisition side of this problem that's the part that's truly impressive to me. Sub-microradian pointing is not trivial. Their "red beam following green beam" shots in the video must be included for a bit of a laugh...

[1] http://www.ndia.org/Divisions/Divisions/ScienceAndEngineerin...

Re: Facebook completes construction of first full-scale aircraft, Aquila [video]

#12

Post by dharma1 »

jaycroft wrote: post #11
josh2600 wrote: post #3

This is quite a thing. Does anyone know how they're achieving the 10gbps data rate? I'm wondering if they're doing something like vortex beam forming... http://www.gizmag.com/twisted-light-beam-data-transmission-v... and http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0030401809... (Although this article is about using a physical fiber).

They're likely not using something too exotic: 10Gbps free space optical links have been available commercially for a few years now (see products by AOptix). The tricky part is pointing them and getting the last bit of power on target. If they're actually forming links at 100's of km separation they're already on par with what APL was doing just 2 or 3 years ago [1]. Impressive that they not only have the data termin…

Agreed, this is very cool. How do free space optical links work in the rain though? Shouldn't be a problem for the link between aircrafts as they fly above the weather but might be for aircraft-ground link if that's optical.

Hope FB will open source parts of this! I know NASA has been looking at optical links for high bandwidth space communication, this accurate tracking would really help

Re: Facebook completes construction of first full-scale aircraft, Aquila [video]

#13

Post by mcbuilder »

jeremy7600 wrote: post #7

Just, no. This is frightening on many levels. A facebook plane? To get people on facebook, right? To get them on the internet is secondary to Zuckerbergs goals here, lets be honest. A walled garden? Come on. It should be the whole internet or they shouldn't even bother. A walled garden, with no security protocols, with the intention of getting the entire world on facebook? Not cool.

That's right, only people in first world countries should get to have Faceboook!

Re: Facebook completes construction of first full-scale aircraft, Aquila [video]

#14

Post by [deleted] »

melling wrote: post #9
jeremy7600 wrote: post #7

Just, no. This is frightening on many levels. A facebook plane? To get people on facebook, right? To get them on the internet is secondary to Zuckerbergs goals here, lets be honest. A walled garden? Come on. It should be the whole internet or they shouldn't even bother. A walled garden, with no security protocols, with the intention of getting the entire world on facebook? Not cool.

Yes. Most people and companies have to justify their extensive time and boat loads of money spent. He wants to grow his business and he's willing to invest to do it. If Coca Cola built roads to villages to sell their products, you would also be unhappy?

[deleted]

Re: Facebook completes construction of first full-scale aircraft, Aquila [video]

#15

Post by mcbuilder »

jeremy7600 wrote: post #7

Just, no. This is frightening on many levels. A facebook plane? To get people on facebook, right? To get them on the internet is secondary to Zuckerbergs goals here, lets be honest. A walled garden? Come on. It should be the whole internet or they shouldn't even bother. A walled garden, with no security protocols, with the intention of getting the entire world on facebook? Not cool.

That's right, only people in first world countries should get to have Faceboook!

Re: Facebook completes construction of first full-scale aircraft, Aquila [video]

#17

Post by jlas »

melling wrote: post #9
jeremy7600 wrote: post #7

Just, no. This is frightening on many levels. A facebook plane? To get people on facebook, right? To get them on the internet is secondary to Zuckerbergs goals here, lets be honest. A walled garden? Come on. It should be the whole internet or they shouldn't even bother. A walled garden, with no security protocols, with the intention of getting the entire world on facebook? Not cool.

Yes. Most people and companies have to justify their extensive time and boat loads of money spent. He wants to grow his business and he's willing to invest to do it. If Coca Cola built roads to villages to sell their products, you would also be unhappy?

How about Coca Cola's Skype machine: http://youtu.be/zlA9tXYxD8g

Re: Facebook completes construction of first full-scale aircraft, Aquila [video]

#19

Post by oscargrouch »

melling wrote: post #9
jeremy7600 wrote: post #7

Just, no. This is frightening on many levels. A facebook plane? To get people on facebook, right? To get them on the internet is secondary to Zuckerbergs goals here, lets be honest. A walled garden? Come on. It should be the whole internet or they shouldn't even bother. A walled garden, with no security protocols, with the intention of getting the entire world on facebook? Not cool.

Yes. Most people and companies have to justify their extensive time and boat loads of money spent. He wants to grow his business and he's willing to invest to do it. If Coca Cola built roads to villages to sell their products, you would also be unhappy?

> If Coca Cola built roads to villages to sell their products, you would also be unhappy?

If Coca Cola built roads to villages to sell their products , but only Coca Cola trucks could use the roads - FTFY

Now that doesnt look so good, does it?

Re: Facebook completes construction of first full-scale aircraft, Aquila [video]

#20

Post by onewaystreet »

panic wrote: post #16

This is not an effort to provide the full internet. See this critique by the EFF for more details: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/05/internetorg-not-neutra...

Someone has to pay for this. Providing the full internet isn't an option.
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