Google's research sibling X shuts down drones project

Project to build solar-powered drone to provide internet access in remote areas closed in favour of competing high-altitude balloon scheme

Google owner Alphabet's subsidiary research company, X, has shut down its project aimed at building a solar-powered drone intended to bring internet access to remote areas.

The project, which stemmed from an acquisition Google made in April 2014 of New Mexico-based Titan Aerospace, was deemed by X to be less promising than a competing attempt to use lightweight weather balloons for the same purpose.