Project Loon

Project Loon is a research and development project being developed by Google X with the mission of providing Internet access to rural and remote areas using high-altitude balloons placed in the stratosphere at an altitude of about 20 km (12 mi) to create an aerial wireless network with up to 3G-like speeds. Using wind data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the balloons are maneuvered by adjusting their altitude to float to a wind layer after identifying the wind layer with the desired speed and direction. 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 on Earth. The balloon system is also expected to improve communication in affected regions during natural disasters. Raven Aerostar , a company that makes weather balloons for NASA, provides the high-altitude balloons used in the project. Key people involved in the project include Rich DeVaul, chief technical architect who is also an expert on wearable technology; and Mike Cassidy, a project leader.

Development

The project began development in 2011 with a series of trial runs in California's Central Valley and was officially announced as a Google X project on June 14, 2013.

Pilot test

On June 16, 2013, official development on Project Loon begins with a pilot experiment in which about 30 balloons will be launched from the Tekapo area on New Zealand's South Island in coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand. 50 pilot testers located around Christchurch and the Canterbury Region will test if they are able to connect to the aerial network using the special Internet antennas.

Equipment

The balloon envelopes are made of polyethylene plastic about 0.076 mm (0.0030 in) thick, and stand 15 m (49 ft) across and 12 m (39 ft) tall when fully inflated. A small box containing the balloon’s electronic equipment hangs underneath the inflated envelope. This box contains circuit boards that control the system, radio antennae to communicate with other balloons and with Internet antennae on the ground, and batteries to store solar power so the balloons can operate during the night. Each balloon’s electronics are powered by an array of solar panels that sit between the envelope and the hardware. In full sun, these panels produce 100 Watts of power,sufficient to keep the unit running while also charging a battery for use at night. A parachute attached to the top of the envelope allows for a controlled descent and landing when a balloon is ready to be taken out of service.

The special ground stations are able to connect to the balloon-powered Internet when the balloons are in a 20 km (12 mi) radius.