Time to hop on the drone bandwagon -- before it flies off without you.
Facebook, in a deal first reported by TechCrunch and CNBC, is buying drone maker
Facebook follows Amazon and
Each tech giant sees robotics as the wave of the future, although the companies are using the technology to varying ends. Facebook's goal could be to provide wireless Internet to under-served parts of the globe. Titan Aerospace makes solar-powered drones that can fly for as long as five years at near-orbital heights. These drones can relay communications and take on other jobs usually performed by satellites, at a fraction of the cost.
While the purchase signals possible growth potential for Facebook (the social network's stock is up 1.6% on the day), it also looks good for other independent robotics companies that could be snapped up in future deals.