Google has acquired Titan Aerospace, a 2 years old startup maker of solar-powered drones, saying it could help bring internet access to remote places as well as solve other problems. The 20-person Titan team will be paired with Google's Project Loon, which is building high-altitude balloons that send internet signals to areas of the planet that are currently not online, according to Google.
Before it was updated Monday to reflect the acquisition, Titan's website cited a wide range of uses for the drones, including atmospheric and weather monitoring, disaster response and voice and data communications.
Facebook was also in talks to buy New Mexico-based Titan earlier this year, but it acquired Ascenta instead.
Both Google and Facebook have launched ambitious projects that aim to get everyone online.
