Project Loon is research and development project being developed by Google with mission of providing Internet access to rural & remote areas.The project uses high altitude balloons placed in the stratosphere at an altitude of about 32 Km to create an aerial wireless network using a special internet antenna attached to their building.The signal travels through the balloon to balloon then ground based station connected to Internet Service Provider(ISP),then onto the global Internet.The system aims to bring Internet access to remote & rural areas poorly served by existing provisions & to improve communication during natural disasters to affected regions.
The technology designed in the project could allow countries to avoid using expensive fiber cable that would have to be installed underground to allow users to connect to the internet.Google feels this will greatly increase internet usage in developing countries in regions such as Africa & Southeast Asia that can't afford to lay underground fiber cable.Project Loon balloons positioned in the stratosphere wind at an altitude of about 20 Km,twice as high as airplane flights & weather changes.It is situated on the edge of space between 10 Km & 60 Km in altitude having steady wind below 20 mph.This spherical layer is great for solar panels because there are no clouds to block the sun.
Each balloon has a radio antenna that provide constant connectivity to the ground and connects each balloon to other balloon.There is special ground antenna that is installed on the home or workplace to access the internet from balloon.Google claims that each balloon can provide signal connectivity to ground area about 40 Km in diameter & able to deliver 3G comparable speeds.These antenna uses ISM bands of spectrum 2.4 GHz & 5.8 GHz.
There are two types of communications:1.Balloon to Balloon Communication.
2.Balloon to Ground Communication.
In loon design there are three main components
1.Envelope:The inflatable part of the balloon is called Envelope.Each super pressure balloon is made of polyethylene plastic material & filled with helium.When fully inflated the balloon height is 12 m & it's width is 15 m.The envelope is designed to resistant exposure to UV rays & is capable to function at dramatic temperature swing as low as -80 degree celsius.
2.Solar Panel:Each balloon's solar panel provide power to it's own electronics.The solar panel's mounted at a steep angle to effectively capture sunlight.The panel produce approximately 100 watts of power in full sun & additional power is stored in rechargeable batteries.
3.Electronics:A small electronic box hangs underneath the inflated envelope.This box contains circuit boards,Linux based computer,radio antenna,GPS sensors & batteries.They have specific function.circuit boards to control the system,radio antenna for communication,GPS for tracking location,sensors to monitor and record weather conditions & lithium ions batteries to store solar panel.
Internet connectivity & communication become one of the basic needs in modern human daily life.An innovative idea like the Google's Project Loon would aid & benefit remote area of the world.It would also provide backbone communication during & after natural disaster when ground infrastructure is destroyed.
