ABSTRACT

The internet has become most transformative technology in our life. Now a days we

perform our most of task by the help of internet such as online shopping, Booking

Air-lines and railway tickets, chatting etc. But major part of thinking is 2/3 people of

earth has not even access to internet facility.

There are many terrestrial challenges to Internet connectivity such as forests,

archipelagos, mountains etc. There are also major cost challenges. Solving these

problems isn’t simply a question of time. It requires looking at the problem think

upon it from new angles.

“PROJECT LOON” is one such initiative taken up by Google to solve the above

mentioned problems. Team Loon build a ring of balloons, which floats in the

stratosphere, twice as high as airplanes and the weather that provides Internet access

to the earth below. The speeds similar to today’s 3G networks or faster. 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.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ContentsABSTRACT....................................................................................................................i

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.............................................................................................ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS..............................................................................................iii

LIST OF FIGURES......................................................................................................iv

1. INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................1

2. TECHNOLOGY.........................................................................................................5

3. PROJECT LOON: DEVELOPMENT.......................................................................7

4. CHALLENGES........................................................................................................11

5. EXPERIMENTAL IMPLEMENTATIONS.............................................................12

6. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES............................................................13

7. CONCLUSIONS......................................................................................................15

8. REFERENCES.........................................................................................................16

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LIST OF FIGURES

Fig 1.1: Introduction to Loon………………………………………………………….2

Fig 1.2: Project loon- New Zealand…………………………………………………...3

Fig 1.3: From no connection to connection…………………………………………...4

Fig: 2.1 Illustrate of working loon…………………………………………………….5

Fig 3.1: Project loon Balloon Envelope……………………………………………….8

Fig 3.2: Balloon during launch………………………………………………………..8

Fig 3.3: Balloons at stratosphere………………………………………………………8

Fig 3.4: Solar panels…………………………………………………………………...8

Fig 3.5: Insulated network equipment box………………………………………….....9

Fig 3.6: A loon antenna used in project loon…………………………………………..9

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PROJECT LOON

1. INTRODUCTION

The internet has become most transformative technology in our life. Now a day’s

most of our works are carried out by the help of internet. It helps us to perform our

task in very short period of time with less physical efforts. We just need to perform

some clicks and our task is proceed and also completed in short time. It reduces the

additional cost required for completing any task. For example: Suppose you want to

book railway ticket so by the help of internet facility it can be done from anywhere,

where the internet facility is available, so need not to spent some additional money as

fare for going to railway station and moving back to home after booking ticket. The

most thinking problem is 2/3 people of the world has no internet connection. They are

unable to connect internet and take its advantages.

There are many terrestrial challenges to Internet connectivity such as forests,

archipelagos, mountains etc. There are also major cost challenges. Solving these

problems isn’t simply a question of time. It requires looking at the problem deeply,

think upon it from new angles for better solution which is feasible and beneficial for

every user.

“PROJECT LOON” is one such initiative taken up by Google to solve the above

mentioned problems. Project Loon is a network of balloons traveling on the edge of

space, designed to provide Internet coverage for people in rural and remote areas and

bring people back online after disaster. Project loon balloons floats in the stratosphere,

twice as high as airplanes and the weather that provides internet access to the earth

below .

The project uses high altitude balloons placed in the stratosphere at an altitude of

about 20 km to create an aerial wireless network with up to 3G-like speeds. 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 using wind data from

the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The internet speeds

similar to today’s 3G networks or faster. People connect to the balloon network using

a special Internet antenna attached to their building. The signal travels through the

balloon network from balloon to balloon, then to a ground based station connected to

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PROJECT LOON

an Internet service provider (ISP), then onto the global Internet.

Fig 1.1: Introduction to Loon

The equipment’s used in the projects are:

Envelope

Solar panel

Network equipment

Loon Antenna

Envelope: The inflatable part of balloon is called the envelope of the balloon. The balloons are

made of polythene. Loon’s balloons are of dimensions 15m wide X 12m height when

completely inflated. The balloons long last around 100 days. When the balloons are

out of service, gas inside it released to bring down the balloon to earth.

Solar Panel:Each balloons are powered by an array of solar panels. It uses high efficiency

crystalline solar cells.

Network Equipment:A small box is hanged underneath the inflated balloons. This balloons contains all

network equipment’s of the loon such as circuit boards, radio antennas, batteries etc.

Loon Antenna:

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PROJECT LOON

These are in circular manners. They are mounted on households where the network

connectivity is established.

History:Few years ago (approx. 10 years) no one has assumed that internet will become such

an integral part of our life. Google X is Google’s secret research and development lab

that is headed by Sergey Brim himself. In 2008, Google had considered contracting

with or acquiring Space Data Corp., a company that sends balloons carrying small

base stations about 20 miles (32 km) up in the air for providing connectivity to

truckers and oil companies in the southern United States, but didn't do so.

Unofficial development on the project began in 2011 under incubation in Google X

with a series of trial runs in California's Central Valley. The project was officially

announced as a Google project on 14 June 2013.

Fig 1.2: Project loon- New Zealand

On 16 June 2013, Google began a pilot experiment in New Zealand where about 30

balloons were launched in coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority from the

Tekapo area in the South Island. About 50 local users in and around Christchurch and

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PROJECT LOON

the Canterbury Region tested connections to the aerial network using special

antennas. After this initial trial, Google plans on sending up 300 balloons around the

world at the 40th parallel south that would provide coverage to New Zealand,

Australia, Chile, and Argentina.

Purpose:One of the often question is why Google has developed “Project Loon”? What is the

purpose of developing project loon even if we are having wired internet connection in

some places. Following are the some reasons behind project loon:

The first purpose for project loon is to provide high speed internet connection

to everyone from no internet connection.

Fig 1.3: From no connection to connection

Many peoples of villages and towns are unable to enjoy the advantages of

internet due to some regions. For this purpose Google launched project loon.

Sometimes we have the internet connection but speed is very low which leads

towards project loon.

To connect people after disasters.

2. TECHNOLOGY

The technology designed in the project loon could allow countries to avoid using ex-

pensive fibre cable that would have to be installed underground to allow users to con-

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PROJECT LOON

nect to the Internet. Project Loon balloons float in the stratosphere, twice as high as

airplanes and the weather. In the stratosphere, there are many layers of wind, and each

layer of wind varies in direction and speed. Loon balloons go where they’re needed

by rising or descending into a layer of wind blowing in the desired direction of travel.

Solar panels about the size of a card table that are just below the free-flying balloons

to generate enough electricity in four hours to power the transmitter for a day and

beam down the Internet signal to ground stations. The Project requires to attach a bas-

ketball-sized receiver resembling a giant bright-red party balloon to an outside wall of

their property in order to connect to the network. Currently, the balloons communicate

using unlicensed 2.4 and 5.8 GHz ISM bands, and Google claims that the setup allows

it to deliver "speeds comparable to 3G" to users. By partnering with Telecommunica-

tions companies to share cellular spectrum they have enabled people to connect to the

balloon network directly from their phones and other LTE-enabled devices.

Project Loon: Working

Fig: 2.1 Illustrate of working loon.

A user with the specialized antenna sends signals via a radio frequency over ISM

bands to a balloon close to him/her. The balloon sends the signals to neighboring

balloons. Eventually, the signals reach the balloon which is connected to the local

Internet. Any balloon is able to connect the internet to a base station which has

internet connectivity and then receives internet data and forwards them via balloons in

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PROJECT LOON

the sky to the destination. Finally, the balloon close to the request user broadcasts the

data to the grounds via a radio frequency over ISM bands. The special antenna

installed the outside of home receives data and decrypt the data.

Movement of balloons:The direction of winds in stratosphere is different in different altitude. The balloons

moves accordingly to provide internet connection. The position of balloons are

controlled by the control system team and by lowering or rising the altitude of

balloons according to the movement of wind.

Communications:For communications there are two main radio transceivers; one for balloon-to-balloon

communications and another for balloon-to-ground communications. There is also a

third backup radio that we use to communicate with the balloons if the others fail or

go out of range.

3. PROJECT LOON: DEVELOPMENT

The development of components are discussed below:

Envelope:The inflatable part of the balloon is called balloon envelope. Project Loon’s balloon

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PROJECT LOON

envelopes are made from sheets of polyethylene plastic and stand fifteen meters wide

by twelve meters tall when fully inflated. The balloons envelope are prepared in room

temperature but the actual temperature that balloon endure in stratosphere is very low

i.e. -60 degree Celsius.

Fig 3.1: Project loon Balloon Envelope

The balloon is built in a manner so that it can resist higher pressure. During day time

the high heat warms up the gases inside the balloon which increases the pressure

inside the balloons. During night it start to cool down and pressure inside it decreases.

The balloons last for at least 100 days, initially which was very low. At beginning the

development of a balloon required 3-4 days but due to the availability of developed

equipment now a balloon can be developed in few hours by two people. Initially a

balloon is launched per day but using crane system the number of launching balloons

per day increased to dozens.

Fig 3.2: Balloon during launch Fig 3.3: Balloons at stratosphere

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PROJECT LOON

When balloon stops working the gas inside is taken out gently to bring down the balloon safely. A parachute is deployed in the top of balloon to bring down it safely in case of burst. But the case occurs rarely.

Solar panel:

Fig 3.4: Solar panels

Each unit’s electronics are powered by an array of solar panels that is placed between

the envelope and the hardware (equipment box). Each solar panel uses high efficiency

monocrystalline solar cells. In full sun these solar panels produces 100 W power

which is enough to run all electrical equipment. It is also used to charge the battery

which can be used during night for providing power to electrical equipment. By mov-

ing with the wind and charging in the sun, Project Loon is able to power itself using only re -

newable energy sources.

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PROJECT LOON

Network Equipment:

Fig 3.5: Insulated network equipment box

A small insulated network box containing circuit boards that control the system, radio

antennas to communicate with other balloons and with Internet antennas on the

ground, and batteries to store solar power so the balloons can operate during the night

is mounted underneath of the balloon. The box is insulated to keep the battery warm

during night time.

Loon Antenna:

Fig 3.6: A loon antenna used in project loon

Loon Antenna can provide wireless Internet connectivity to ground areas at up to

10Mbps (3G speed). There are three kinds of communications: balloon-to-balloon

network and balloon-to-ground station or subscribers’ network, balloon to antenna

network. It has specialized radio antennas to support two networks. It currently uses

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PROJECT LOON

ISM bands specifically 2.4 and 5.8 GHz bands because they are typically unlicensed

radio frequencies around the world. This also avoids interferences and reaches much

further distances. Because it does not support Wi-Fi, Smartphone’s such as I-Phone

are not able to establish connections directly to balloons. It requires users to install a

specialized antenna the outside of their home to receive the signal from a balloon near

their home and to decrypt the signal.

4. CHALLENGES

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PROJECT LOON

There are several challenges faced by the development team. Some challenges are

discussed as follows:

Stratospheric Environment: The temperature at stratosphere is very low i.e. about -60 degree Celsius. It became very difficult for batteries to function properly during night time because battery discharges in high speed in cold.

Safety of Balloon:The safety of Balloon is one of the most challenging task. As the dimension of balloon is very large and its thickness is very low, so a small hole can create a major problem. It will be the path for leakage of gas. Finding such holes are also a big task like achieving something after long period of time.

Safety of Electrical Equipment:Very small equipments are used in this project. Any damages in any small kit will lead

to major problem. Replacing of such equipment will require to bring down the balloon

and after repairing send it back which will be like launching a new balloon.

5. EXPERIMENTAL IMPLEMENTATIONS

In 2008, Google had considered contracting with or acquiring Space Data Corp., a

company that sends balloons carrying small base stations about 20 miles (32 km) up

in the air for providing connectivity to truckers and oil companies in the southern

United States, but didn't do so.

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PROJECT LOON

Unofficial development on the project began in 2011 under incubation in Google X

with a series of trial runs in California's Central Valley.

The project was officially announced as a Google project on 14 June 2013.On 16 June

2013, Google began a pilot experiment in New Zealand where about 30 balloons

were launched in coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority from the Tekapo area

in the South Island. About 50 local users in and around Christchurch and the Canter-

bury Region tested connections to the aerial network using special antennas.

After this initial trial, Google plans on sending up 300 balloons around the world at

the 40th parallel south that would provide coverage to New Zealand, Australia, Chile,

and Argentina. Google hopes to eventually have thousands of balloons flying in the

stratosphere .

6. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

ADVANTAGESSpeed:The internet speed is comparable to 3G speed. People can now have a good network

connection from no network connection.

Connecting people:The project loon is connecting people to the world of internet who were unable to ac-

cess it due to lack network connection availability. With the help of this every one can

be able to communicate and be able to take advantage of internet.

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PROJECT LOON

Education:This can be used as major factor for providing better education in institute. Faculties

as well as students can get clarify their doubt using internet which will enhance the

eduaction quality of students.

Disaster Management:Project loon can play an important role in disaster management. Whenever any

disaster took place in anywhere on the earth the particular place get affected and

connectivity between people is lost. But this can be overcome using project loon.

After disaster it will remain same. No need to wait for correcting affected one to get

connectivity.

Technical Skills:Launching of balloons doesn’t require high technical skills. So people having less

technical skills can also perform the task. Launching can be easily done by them.

DISADVANTAGESThere are few disadvantages of this project which are mentioned as follows:

High Cost:The launching of balloons requires very high cost which can become problem for

installation.

Duration of balloons:The duration of balloon is very less. The balloons works for only 100 days which is a

major problem of this project.

Internet Privacy:The data privacy is less. As we use wireless connection so our data can be modified

during transmissions, resulting in modification of original data.

Hardware failure:The possibility of hardware failure is very high. Any equipment may fail in

stratosphere due to critical situation.

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PROJECT LOON

7. CONCLUSIONS

The internet has become basic important day to day life. While one part of the world

is getting improved in a tremendous speed with the help of internet connection, about

2/3 of population is not even able to access it. Google tried to fill this void by the 'Pro-

ject Loon' and fix the broad band problem. Project loon is one of the biggest idea of

Google. There is near about 75% comment is in the favour of project loons. So far as I

think it would be great Success of this. Project in Future and we hope balloons could

become an option for connecting rural, remote, and underserved areas, and for helping

with communications after natural disasters. The technique to bring mobile internet

connectivity to billions of people using balloons may sounds crazy but it might work.

Google states that "It is highly experimental technology we have long way to go".

This innovative attempt made by the Google to provide connection to rural areas and

remote regions that deserve internet connection is an inspiring effort. The launch of

'Project Loon' made balloons too an option to provide internet access everywhere that

too in a cost effective manner.

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PROJECT LOON

8. REFERENCES

[1] https://www.youtube.com/user/projectloon referred on Feb 15, 2017.

[2] Prof.Mrs.A.G.Andurkar1, Miss PrachiZodpe, “A Review Paper on

Project LOONS” Vol. 5, Issued 3 March 2016 at International Journal of

Advanced Research in Computer and Communication Engineering

[3] S Subhashini, Dr. C Balarenga Durai, Prasad B, “Google Project Loon”

Vol 3, Issue 3, March 2016, issued at International Journal of

Engineering Research in Computer Science and Engineering (IJERCSE)

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