Project Loon
Project Loon is a Google project at that aims to provide internet access to the two-thirds of the world's population which does not have internet access. It focuses on developing countries, rural and remote areas and areas that have suffered natural disasters. It uses high-altitude balloons that float between 10km to 60km above the Earth's surface -- generally higher than airplanes and the weather -- and utilizes software algorithms to carefully position balloons within wind patterns. Google has partnered with telecommunications to share cellular spectrums, thus transforming the floating balloons into large-scale wireless networks for use on phones and other LTE-enabled devices.[1][2]
Made from sheets of polyethtylene plastic and measuring fifteen meters wide and twelve meters tall when inflated, the balloons last for about 100 days. Each one is powered by solar panels and a box of electronics which controls the system and has radio antennas which allows them to communicate with other balloons and antennas on the ground.[2]
Background
On the 15th December 2014, it was announced that the French Space Agency CNES had formed a partnership with Google on Project Loon.[3]
Project Loon began in June 2013 with an experimental pilot in New Zealand. The results of the pilot test, as well as subsequent tests in New Zealand, California's Central Valley and in Northeast Brazil, are being used to improve the technology in preparation for the next stages of the project.[2]
Technology
Video
References
- ↑ Google Loon, Google.com. Retrieved 16th December 2014. Updated 2016 April 20.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 How Loon Works, Google.com. Retrieved 2016 April 20.
- ↑ Google partners with French space agency for Project Loon Techtimes, retrieved 17th December 2014.