Facebook, Inc. (NASDAQ:FB) is investigating an accident that caused a drone to falter and fall to the ground last June.
The vessel was hovering over the city of Yuma, Arizona last June when some sort of malfunction occurred and the drone came down. The accident did not result in any injuries, but such a move could pose a serious threat to someone if it had landed on someone.
The social media site commented on the device on a blog post released July 21, stating that it was unsure of what caused the accident. Now, the National Transportation Safety Board (NSTB) is exploring the incident.
These drones are designed to help connect the entire world as they will bring access to the Internet to remote areas of the world where such a service may not be readily available. The Facebook product has been featured in a number of ads on YouTube, claiming that the energy needed for the device is equal to the power exerted by three blow driers.
Additionally, only four engines power the drones, which have a wingspan of 141 feet, while weighing 900 pounds. The devices are designed to stay in flight for 90 days, as they use solar-powered panels to refuel on the air.
They can deliver speeds that are 10 times faster than current Internet technologies of a similar capacity. The technology used on these drones consist of a laser communication system.
FB shares slipped 0.1% Tuesday.
