In order to provide Internet to more rural areas of the world that do not have access, Google has created balloons with equipment for wireless networks that float up in the stratosphere. Users have an internet antenna attached to their building. The balloons communicate with each other through the balloon network, then with equipment on the ground connected to an Internet service provider, then finally to the global Internet. Each balloon is said to provide internet to people on the ground who are within 25 miles, with hundreds of people being able to connect at a time. The data coverage is said to be on par with LTE 4G networks.
These balloons have been designed to withstand many different weather conditions and are solar powered. The Loons also contain GPS tracking devices as well as sensors that monitor the environmental conditions of the atmosphere. Google has developed an algorithm that predicts wind patterns and then steers the balloon accordingly. Google also has an operations system called Mission Control, which sends directions to the balloons every 15 minutes and can alter the path every minute. They use these directions to alter their altitude in the stratosphere so that they can catch winds that are moving in the direction they need to go. So in a way, they are solar and wind powered! Pretty neat!
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Loon
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/google-loon5.htm
This is really interesting, I wonder why I've never heard of it before. Are you sure this isn't part of the recent "fake news" hoax that's been the latest internet nuisance? Also, where are some of the places on the Earth that this project has impacted?
ReplyDeleteThis is so cool! Is this technology in use now or is it being developed still? I can't imagine not having internet in this day in age, so it's super helpful that Google is trying to spread it to areas that don't currently have great access. Nice blog!
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