Google project loon report

GOOGLE PROJECT LOON

CHEPTER: 1 INTRODUCTION

Flying Hope: Balloon bring Internet to everywhere

Today only 2.7 billion people – a little more than one third of the world’s population

have Internet access. This fact can be attributed to many reasons, but the most important

factor is the scarcity of intensive capital necessary for Internet infrastructure implementation

in many developing areas.

The rapid development in wireless telecommunication industry has boosted another

revolution in data services. Even though there are more than 1 billion Smartphone subscribers

in the world, the majority of them still don’t have data access due to the costly data plan in

many countries. On the other hand, the vast majority of the prices people pay for data plans

go directly towards covering the tens of billions of dollars spent each year building the

infrastructure to deliver the connections. Unless the infrastructure expansion becomes more

efficient, the industry cannot sustainably serve everyone. Bring majority of the global

population into Internet community is one of the greatest challenges of our generation, and

now we see hope from the Google Project Loon – a network of balloons travelling on the

edge of space, designed to provide ubiquitous Internet connectivity free of terrestrial

constrains and with an affordable rate worldwide.

Fig 1.1: % population without internet

Computer Department, MSCET, Surat. Page 1

GOOGLE PROJECT LOON

Now the time is 2015, and the Google Project Loon finally matured in technology.

The novel system is ready to enter the market to provide Broadband Internet connectivity.

However, this industry is highly competitive and prospers with various Broadband

technologies. You and your team are hired by Mr. Mike Cassidy, the Project Leader of

Project Loon in Google[X] to develop strategies for a successful launch of the Loon based

Wi-Fi network. After intensive study, now you are going to present a promising solution to

Mr. Cassidy. Before the day of the presentation, you need to write a business letter (no more

than 300 hundred words) to briefly summarize your deliverables in a professional tone. To

ensure a successful presentation, you should address following questions.

What’s the favoured business model for launching the Loon based Internet

connection? Where does the revenue come from? (Household Internet subscriber, contract

with industries and government agencies, reseller of wireless airtime, or simply

advertisement, etc.)

To introduce the Loon based Wi-Fi network into market, what’s the primary targeted

market and consumers in terms of demand and coverage? Which geographical region will

you choose for the debut, and why? Given the atmospheric science background and

technological details, how would you design a network pattern and operation mode to provide

reliable Internet coverage for the region you chose, and also in a cost effective fashion. In

addition, please provide pricing strategy for your primary launching plan.

Please analyze the core competence for the Loon based Internet among the existing

Internet services providers, and reasonably position the technology in the market. According

to your analysis, estimate how many market share it could capture, or can the Loons possibly

exploit new market in terms of service and geographic regions.

As the bellwether in IT industry, what leverages can Google use to foster the Loon

based Internet? (Such as patents, cash flow, integration of Google services with Loon based

Internet, etc.)


GOOGLE PROJECT LOON

As an outlook, in order to further penetrate the market by Loon base Internet, how should

the Google improve on its product? Please provide stepwise long-term strategy for the Loon

to set a development plan in terms of both marketing and technology.

1.1Background

Project loon is a research and development project being enveloped by Google. It is a

network of balloons travelling on the edge of space, designed to provide ubiquitous Internet

connectivity. The balloons float in the stratosphere, twice as high as airplanes and the

weather. They are carried around the Earth by winds and they can be steered by rising or

descending to an altitude with winds moving in the desired 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 back on Earth.

Fig 1.2: Basic concept behind “Google project loon”


http://www.gamengadgets.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/google-project-loon-designboom00.jpg

GOOGLE PROJECT LOON

CHEPTER: 2 PROJECT OVERVIEW

2.1 What is Project Loon?

Many of us think of the Internet as a global community. But two-thirds of the world’s

population does not yet have Internet access. Project Loon is a network of balloons traveling

on the edge of space, designed to connect people in rural and remote areas, help fill coverage

gaps, and bring people back online after disasters.

2.2 The technology

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. People can connect to the balloon

network using a special Internet antenna attached to their building. The signal bounces from

this antenna up to the balloon network, and then down to the global Internet on Earth.

2.3 Where loon has been

Project Loon began in June 2013 with an experimental pilot in New Zealand, where a

small group of Project Loon pioneers tested Loon technology. The results of the pilot test

have been used to improve the technology, and continued refinements are now being tested in

an ongoing series of research flights in California’s Central Valley.

Project Loon balloons travel around 20 km above the Earth’s surface in the

stratosphere. Winds in the stratosphere are generally steady and slow-moving at between 5

and 20 mph, and each layer of wind varies in direction and magnitude. Project Loon uses

software algorithms to determine where its balloons need to go, then moves each one into a

layer of wind blowing in the right direction.


GOOGLE PROJECT LOON

By moving with the wind, the balloons can be arranged to form one large

communications network Situated between 10 km and 60 km altitude on the edge of space,

the stratosphere is named after the different strata, or layers, of wind within it. But the

extreme altitude also presents unique engineering challenges:

Air pressure is 1% of that at sea level,

1. temperatures hover around -50°C, and

2. A thinner atmosphere offers less protection from the UV radiation and temperature

swings caused by the sun’s rays.

Fig 2.1: working area of loon in this project


GOOGLE PROJECT LOON

CHEPTER: 3 LOON DESIGNThe loon is comprised of three parts: an envelope, solar panels and equipment.

Envelope

Solar panel

Equipment

Fig 3.1: Project loon balloon

3.1 Envelope:The balloon envelope is the name for the inflatable part of the balloon. Project Loon’s

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

by twelve meters tall when fully inflated. The balloon powers itself by two renewable

energies, sunlight and wind.

Fig 3.2: Actual image of loon


GOOGLE PROJECT LOON

Its envelope is made from sheets of Mylar which is a brand for a thin strong polyester

film about 0.076 mm thick. Such super pressure balloons require Mylar since it strongly

keeps from stretching and popping at even high altitude. It is built to resist higher pressures

than a normal weather balloon which reaches usually at an altitude of40 km (25 mi). Inside

envelope, there is another chamber, called bladder. To have the balloon descended, a fan

powered by the solar energy fills the bladder with air to make it heavier. Likewise, the fan

vents air in the bladder, which causes it to rise. The balloon can move up or down a 1.7 km (1

mi) range through the bladder system. This system can help to choose suitable wind currents

in stratosphere. It also releases some air inside out of the envelope to relieve pressure. When

being out of the service, it releases gas from the envelope and descends slowly to the ground.

It rarely happens, but when the balloon drops quickly, it uses the parachute on the top of the

envelope.

3.2 Solar panel:

Fig 3.3: Solar panel

Each unit’s electronics are powered by an array of solar panels that sits between the

envelope and the hardware. In full sun, these panels produce 100 Watts of power - enough to

keep the unit running while also charging a battery for use at night.


GOOGLE PROJECT LOON

Fig3.4: Actual image of solar panel which is used in this project

By moving with the wind and charging in the sun, Project Loon is able to power itself

using only renewable energy sources.

3.3 Equipment:

Fig 3.5: Equipment

A small box containing the balloon’s electronic equipment hangs underneath the

inflated envelope, like the basket that is carried by a hot air balloon.

Fig 3.6: This is the first prototype of loon equipment. The parachute is stuffed into the hole in

the centre.


GOOGLE PROJECT LOON

This box contains 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.

Fig 3.7: What goes up in to atmosphere


GOOGLE PROJECT LOON

CHAPTER: 4 LOON WORKS

Fig 4.1: Illustrate working of 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 neigh boring balloons.

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

wireless mesh network is constantly adjusting as balloons move. 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 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.

The wireless mesh network should be constantly adjusting as balloons move.

It covers an area of an around 40 km (28 mi) diameter circle which is twice the area of

New York City. Thousands of balloons can cover the whole world. Currently, its lifetime is

only a few weeks, but Google anticipates that they can be in the sky hundreds of days in

future.


GOOGLE PROJECT LOON

4.1 Circuitry and Transmission

Each balloon carries a payload of about 10 kg, including but not limited to radio

antenna, several sensors, altitude control system, processor chips and batteries. Figure is a

possible patent diagram of the circuitry8. The on-board antenna uses a Ubiquities Network

Rocket M2 as a WIFI transceiver. A customized Linux OS is also loaded on a processor chip

to manage and transmit network and location data. The OS is loaded with software that can

log onto remotely via the web.

Figure:

Fig 4.2: Patent circuitry of Loon


GOOGLE PROJECT LOON

Third iteration of original circuitry for early pilots is shown below in figure

Fig 4.3: Original on-board circuitry for early pilots


GOOGLE PROJECT LOON

CHAPTER: 5 Loons Connections

Far below the loons, ground stations providing connectivity to backbone Internet can

transmit signals to the balloons up to 65 miles far. The signals would hop forward, from one

balloon to the next, along a chain of up to 5 balloons. Each balloon is networked to one

another within 30 miles with a radio transceiver as in a mesh, designed to ensure signal

reliability. A second transceiver keeps the balloon in contact hundreds of antennas on ground

area about 25 miles in diameter at speeds comparable to 3G. The specialized antennas can be

placed on homes, much like a very small satellite TV receiver. Project Loon currently uses

ISM bands (specifically 2.4 and 5.8 GHz bands) that are available for anyone to use. There is

also a back-up transceiver and a GPS on each balloon, so Google can monitor each balloon's

location.

There are several ground stations with transceivers similar to that on the balloon, but

they are high-powered Ubiquities AirMax/Rocket M5 (operating at 5.8 GHz).10 the Network

is designed as a mesh layout to ensure reliability. A ground station already Connected via

either fibre or other backbone infrastructure to the internet, beams Signal to any nearby

balloon. The first balloon that receives the signal, then Forwards or hops the signal up to 5

other balloons on its same path in sequence, a Distance of about 100 km (62 miles). Figure 9

shows the mesh structure of Loon

Fig 5.1: Mesh network of Loon


GOOGLE PROJECT LOON

Each balloon then hops the WIFI signal to ground users with coverage of about 1,256km2

(780 sq miles), in context the twice the size of New York City. Users can receive Signal via

Smartphone’s or customized dual-polarization dipole antenna through an Access point.

5.1 Antenna:

Fig 5.2: Antenna use in project loon

It 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 ISM bands specifically 2.4 and 5.8 GHz bands

because they are typically unlicensed radio frequencies around the world, which means

Google is able to avoid negotiating with local governments to purchase specific radio

frequencies. Additionally, 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.

This way is very similar to the usage of satellites. Figure shows current iteration of the

ground receiver antenna

Fig 5.3: Dual polarized dipole antenna for the receiver


GOOGLE PROJECT LOON


GOOGLE PROJECT LOON

CHAPTERT: 6 Loons MovementsProject Loon balloons travel around 65,000 feet above the Earth’s surface in the

stratosphere. Winds in the stratosphere are generally steady and slow-moving at between 5

and 20 mph, and each layer of wind varies in direction and magnitude. Due to the wind

properties, balloons can travel along latitude line with a ± 5o latitude range. Project Loon uses

software algorithms to determine where its balloons need to go, then moves each one into a

layer of wind blowing in the right direction. By moving with the wind, the balloons can be

arranged to form one large communications network. The Loon team can access the web-

based control system from any computer or tablet.

6.1 How Loon flies

NAVIGATING WITH THE WIND

Fig 6.1: loon navigation with wind

Winds in the stratosphere are stratified, and each layer of wind varies in speed and

direction. Project Loon uses software algorithms to determine where its balloons need to go,

then moves each one into a layer of wind blowing in the right direction. By moving with the

wind, the balloons can be arranged to form one large communications network.

6.2 Stratosphere

Situated on the edge of space, between 10 km and 60 km in altitude, the stratosphere

presents unique engineering challenges: air pressure is 1% that at sea level, and this thin

atmosphere offers less protection from UV radiation and dramatic temperature swings, which

can reach as low as -80°C. By carefully designing the balloon envelope to withstand these


GOOGLE PROJECT LOON

conditions, Project Loon is able to take advantage of the stratosphere’s steady winds and

remain well above weather events, wildlife and airplanes.

6.3 Stratospheric Environment

Because the wind below 10km of altitude is not favourable, and because balloons

cannot be positioned even above that troposphere, an algorithm is developed to control

Movement or flow of the balloons based on national wind data, just like the sailing of Boat to

shoreline, adjusting them along right currents in the direction of waves of the Wind.

Figure below shows altitude levels above the atmosphere and somewhat indicate

That theoretically, radio waves behave well in free space, with no interference of Signal, and

power is attenuated by path loss coefficient lower than 2

Fig

Fig 6.2: Stratosphere by altitude


GOOGLE PROJECT LOON

CHAPTER 7: Current Progress

The Project Loon pilot test began in June 2013 on the 40th parallel south*. Thirty

balloons, launched from New Zealand’s South Island, beamed Internet to a small group of

pilot testers. The experience of these pilot testers is now being used to refine the technology

and shape the next phase of Project Loon.

Fig 7.1: Area covered by pilot test in New Zealand

The journey

Huge thanks to our pilot testers for taking the first step with us. Watch as Charles, a

Project Loon pilot tester, connects to balloon-powered Internet for the first time.

Fig7.2: Project loon pilot tester Charles connect s the balloon provide internet for fist time

Paul, an operations team lead, uses a red sounding balloon to test the wind direction at the


GOOGLE PROJECT LOON

launch site.

Fig 7.3: Before launch, the balloons are unfurled on top of a protective tarp. This ensures the delicate envelope isn’t damaged by gravel or spiky grass. The balloon ascends to the stratosphere.

The Nimmo family was the first to connect to balloon-powered Internet.

Our youngest pilot tester was just a few yare old.

If you are interested in learning how to become a Project Loon pilot tester for a future set of test launches

Fig 7.4: Path of balloon in pilot test


GOOGLE PROJECT LOON

7.1 LOON COST Cost (estimated according to current market prices)

A. Balloon Polyethylene plastic envelops manufactured by Raven Aerostat: $4,000

Helium gas per loon per flight: $2,000 100W

solar panels (5ft × 5ft): $500

Navigation control system: $1000

Equipment box (circuit boards, radio antennae, GPS, weather instruments and

batteries): $12,000

Re-launch fee for a used balloon: $3,000

B. Ground station connected to backbone Internet Station construction and equipment installation: $1.2 million

Maintenance: equipment cost is $30,000/year and land cost depends on local market.

C. Need dedicated personnel to conduct regular maintenance and

troubleshooting.

D. Labour cost varies at different location.

E. Balloon launching and collecting point All the installation, maintenance costs depend on local land cost and human resource

cost.

Due to properties of wind in the stratosphere, balloon moves along latitude line with a

± 5o latitude range, so please be aware of coverage limitation of balloons from one

balloon station.

F. Antenna for users Antenna: $500


GOOGLE PROJECT LOON


GOOGLE PROJECT LOON

7.2 ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGE

Advantages

Easy to use

Speed

Increase internet usage

Availability of information

Education

Heath and medicines

Use of renewable resources

Weather Surveillance

Collaboration

Disadvantages

Single time cost is high

Balloon can work for few months

Possibilities of Hardware Failure

Internet privacy

Not a replacement of satellite

communication.

International politics


GOOGLE PROJECT LOON

CONCLUSION

Long distance tracking experiment of loon on 40th parallel southThere are many rules regarding airspace and who controls it, and also disagreements as to

how far (up) such control extends. Floating in the stratosphere means that almost certainly,

Google will always be required to seek permission from any government whose airspace the

balloons float into. In addition, while this project uses unlicensed spectrum, there's no

guarantee that will always be the case. Luckily for Google, approximately 70,000 weather

balloons are launched every year, which may mitigate some, though not all, of the legal and

regulatory issues


GOOGLE PROJECT LOON

REFERENCES[1] https://plus.google.com/u/0/+ProjectLoon/posts

[2] http://www.google.com/loon/

[3]http://googleblog.blogspot.in/2013/06/introducing-project-loon.html

[4]http://slideshare.net

[5]http://google.com


http://slideshare.net/

http://googleblog.blogspot.in/2013/06/introducing-project-loon.html

Technology

Google project loon report