Project Loon is a network of balloons traveling on the edge of space, designed to connect people in rural and remote areas. The balloon is also considerably used to gather weather information such as atmospheric pressure, temperature, humidity and wind speed.
2. Introduction
• Many of us think of the Internet as a global community. But two-thirds of the world’s population
does not yet have Internet access.
• Project Loon is a network of balloons traveling on the edge of space, designed to connect
people in rural and remote areas.
• The balloon is also considerably used to gather weather information such as atmospheric
pressure, temperature, humidity and wind speed.
3. History
In 2001, Space Data Corporation, suggested an idea to widen the cellular coverage for the
rural areas in the united States. The idea was to have wireless transceivers carried on weather
balloons.
In 2008, Google had considered contracting Space Data Corporation. Unofficial development
on the project began in 2011 under Google X( X corporation).
The project was officially announced as a Google project on June 2013.
A small group of Project Loon pioneers tested the technology in New Zealand.
30 balloons, launched from New Zealand’s South Island
4. Technology
Project Loon balloons float in the stratosphere, twice as high
as airplanes
People connect to the balloon network using a special
Internet antenna attached to their building.
The signal bounces from balloon to balloon, then to the
global Internet back on Earth.
5. Stratosphere
Situated between 10 km and 60 km altitude on the edge of space.
Air pressure is 1% of that at sea level.
Thinner atmosphere offers less protection from the UV radiation and temperature caused by
the sun’s rays.
6. HOW LOON IS DESIGNED
ENVELOPE
SOLAR PANELS
EQUIPMENT
7. ENVELOPE
Project Loon’s balloon envelopes are made from sheets of polyethylene plastic and stand
fifteen meters wide by twelve meters tall when fully inflated.
A parachute attached to the top of the envelope allows for a controlled descent and landing
whenever a balloon is ready to be taken out of service.
8. SOLAR PANELS
Each unit’s electronics are powered by an array of solar panels that sits between the envelope
and the hardware.
In full sun, these panels produce 100 Watts of power - enough to keep the unit running while
also charging a battery for use at night.
By moving with the wind and charging in the sun, Project
Loon is able to power itself using only renewable energy
sources.
9. EQUIPMENT
A small box containing the balloon’s electronic equipment.
This box contains circuit boards that control the system.
Radio antennas to communicate with other balloons and with Internet antennas on the ground.
And batteries to store solar power so the balloons can operate
during the night .
10. HOW LOON MOVES
Winds in the stratosphere are generally steady and slow-moving at between 5 and 20 mph.
Project Loon uses software algorithms to determine where its balloons need to go, then moves
each one into a layer of wind blowing in the right direction.
The balloons arranged to form one large communications network.
11. User Connectivity
Users of the service connect to the balloon network using a special Internet
antenna attached to their building.
12. HOW LOON CONNECTS
Each balloon can provide connectivity to a ground area about 80 km in diameter using a
wireless communications technology at speeds same to 3G.
Each balloon is equipped with a GPS for tracking its location.
15. Conclusion
Project Loon is an ambitious project and the world will highly benefit from it.
Project Loon, an initiative to help fill in those internet gaps through the use of networked
balloons.
The goal is to provide broadband-like internet for the two-thirds of the world that doesn’t have
access to a reliable internet connection by balloon.