View Full Version : Experimental Facebook drone experienced structural failure on approach
Mark in CA
22nd Nov 2016, 10:15
This appears to have happened last July, but only being reported now. Anyone know more?
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-11-21/facebook-experimental-drone-accident-subject-of-safety-probe
dartmoorman
22nd Nov 2016, 23:46
I am surprised that there are no more comments on this - not too sure on high altitude aerodynamics but surely it would have been better to adopt the standard "bird" layout ie tail and tripod landing capability ... ? The take-off looked pretty good but ??? Also looking forward to see where the structural failure initiated ... root bending moments perhaps ...
peekay4
23rd Nov 2016, 15:39
The drone is intended to be solar powered eventually, and a 'flying wing' design is in theory the most aerodynamically efficient configuration (the least amount of drag).