Have you tried going to a remote area where in your gadgets that could connect to the internet lost its signal or a radio communication device with a husky frequency? Well, there is already an upcoming solution for internet access and device frequency.
Google is working on its Project Loon, let’s not talk much how sophisticated it is but rather we would explain to you in the simplest manner.
Project Loon in an inter-connection of balloons at the top where airplanes fly (You can stop the imagination of airplanes hitting balloons now), it is designed to reach the most rural and isolated areas in parts of the world where internet access is next to impossible.
“Project Loon starts in June 2013 with an experimental pilot in New Zealand. A small group of Project Loon pioneers will test the technology in Christchurch and Canterbury.” – Project Loon
If your antennas in the surface needs to face a certain direction or needs to be elevated high above ground then the Project Loon in space does the same. Using the wind blows by pilots, they can direct where the Loon is heading to the right direction so with that they can arrange a certain position to have a one large communicate network of Loons. (hoping we could see that, we all love balloons)
Design:
• 15m Wide and 12m Tall (When fully inflated)
• Longer lasting than weather balloons
• Can withstand higher pressure (When the Loon reaches float altitude)
• Attached parachute at the top for landing and taken out of service.
Solar Panels:
• When running during the day, Loon provides 100 watts of power in full sun enough to keep it running during the night. (Basically if there will be no technical errors at the top it can have an unlimited source of energy).
Equipment:
• Circuit boards that control the system.
• Radio antennas to communicate with other balloons
• With Internet antennas on the ground (You need to have a linking device on buildings to access the Loon)
• Batteries that absorb the energy generated from the solar panels to be used during the night.
You might be thinking about how it connects to the ground, each balloon can provide connectivity around 40km (Just imagine a signal tower at the top of the sky) comparable to 3G speed.
“The balloons use antennas equipped with specialized radio frequency technology”
In addition to that you can also be a test pilot if you are within their area of testing, and who knows you will be tapped to be the area pilot. More info
Photo credit to respective owner.
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