Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) will reportedly unveil its secretive hardware group next month.
The unit, which has been dubbed Building 8, is said to be working on four projects involving augmented reality, brain scanning technology, cameras and a drone, Business Insider reports.
The group has not yet revealed any of the products it is developing but sources say that the wait could come to an end next month at Facebook's developer conference.
While the social media giant has no experience of developing hardware, large sums of money appear to have been invested in Building 8 and its staff.
The brain scanning technology project is reportedly being led by an ex-John Hopkins neuroscientist, who helped develop a mind-controlled prosthetic arm.
Another is being led by an interventional cardiologist from Stanford University who has expertise in developing medical devices while the suspected drone project is being led by robotics and computer vision expert Frank Dellaert.
Each project leader is said to enjoy a high level of autonomy in meeting a two-year deadline to prove a concept that can be used by Facebook or set up as an independent company.
The first deadline is around one year away.