PROJECT LOON

PRESENTED BY:
N.SWAPNIKA

ABSTRACT:

Project Loon is a research and development

project being developed by Google with the
mission of providing Internet access to rural and
remote areas. The project uses high-altitude
balloons placed in the stratosphere at an altitude
of about 32 km (20 mi) to create an aerial
wireless network with up to 3G-like speeds.It
was named Project Loon, since Google itself
found the very idea of providing internet access
to the remaining 5 billion population quite
unprecedented and crazy.

1. INTRODUCTION
If we reach the history of technology, we can
have a look at the evolution in it. In Internet
Technology there are lots of advancements. It
became so easy to do anything with Internet
which playing a key role. But still three third of
the worlds population is not connected to the
internet due to several problems which can be
either it is a rural area or a mountain region.

The balloons are maneuvered by adjusting their

Here, if we come to other side of the coin, the

altitude to float to a wind layer after identifying

evolution of technology made more people to

the wind layer with the desired speed and

use internet from cables, fibers to portable

direction using wind data from the National

devices, from portable devices to wireless

oceanic and atmospheric.

networks. Though there is a vast development in

technology still man is facing some issues

Users of the service connect to the balloon

wherever the natural disasters, other accidents

network using a special Internet antenna

take place at a particular area which will

attached to their building. The signal travels

completely disconnects the connectivity with

through the balloon network from balloon to

rest of the world. So from these problems, one

balloon,

station

thought came out from Google which might

connected to an Internet service provider (ISP),

solve all the above discussed problems of man.

then onto the global Internet. The system aims to

It is Project Loon which powers every region

bring Internet access to remote and rural areas

on earth with internet service. By this, the world

poorly served by existing provisions, and to

still becomes smaller. No matter where the place

improve

communication

during natural

is, no matter how height the region is and no

disasters to

affected

Key

people

matter if any natural disaster occurs, but Project

involved in the project include Rich De vaul,

Loon is there to connect the entire world with its

chief technical architect, who is also an expert

valuable Loon service. It is one of the most

on wearable technology.

wonderful ideas taken up by the Google and it is

then

to

ground-based

regions.

going on till at present [1].

Today only 2.7 billion people a little more than

Leader of Project Loon in Google[X] to develop

one third of the worlds populationhave

strategies for a successful launch of the Loon

Internet access. This fact can be attributed to

based WiFi network. After intensive study, now

many reasons, but the most important factor is

you are going to present a promising solution to

the scarcity of intensive capital necessary for

Mr. Cassidy. Before the day of the presentation,

Internet infrastructure implementation in many

you need to write a business letter (no more than

developing areas. The rapid development in

300 hundred words) to briefly summarize your

wireless

has

deliverables in a professional tone. To ensure a

boosted another revolution in data services.

successful presentation, you should address

Even though there are more than 1 billion

following questions.

smartphone subscribers in the world, the

Whats the favored business model for launching

majority of them still dont have data access due

the Loon based Internet connection? Where does

to the costly data plan in many countries. On the

the revenue come from? (Household Internet

other hand, the vast majority of the prices people

subscriber,

contract

pay for data plans go directly towards covering

government

agencies,

the tens of billions of dollars spent each year

airtime, or simply advertisement, etc.)

building the infrastructure to deliver the

To introduce the Loon based WiFi network into

connections. Unless the infrastructure expansion

market, whats the primary targeted market and

becomes more efficient, the industry cannot

consumers in terms of demand and coverage?

sustainably serve everyone. Bring majority of

Which geographical region will you choose for

the global population into Internet community is

the debut, and why? Given the atmospheric

one of the greatest challenges of our generation,

science background and technological details,

and now we see hope from the Google Project

how would you design a network pattern and

Loon a network of balloons traveling on the

operation mode to provide reliable Internet

edge of space, designed to provide ubiquitous

coverage for the region you chose, and also in a

Internet connectivity free of terrestrial constrains

cost effective fashion. In addition, please

and with an affordable rate worldwide.

provide pricing strategy for your primary

Now the time is 2015, and the Google Project

launching plan.

Loon finally matured in technology. The novel

Please analyze the core competence for the Loon

system is ready to enter the market to provide

based Internet among the existing Internet

Broadband Internet connectivity. However, this

services providers, and reasonably position the

industry is highly competitive and prospers with

technology in the market. According to your

various Broadband technologies. You and your

analysis, estimate how many market share it

team are hired by Mr. Mike Cassidy, the Project

could capture, or can the Loons possibly exploit

telecommunication

industry

with

industries

reseller

of

and

wireless

new market in terms of service and geographic

balloon network using a special Internet antenna

regions.

attached to their building. The signal bounces

As the bellwether in IT industry, what leverages

from balloon to balloon, then to the global

can Google use to foster the Loon based

Internet back on Earth.

Internet? (Such as patents, cash flow, integration

3. OBJECTIVES OF STUDY:

of Google services with Loon based Internet,

The main objectives of study in this paper are

etc.)
i.

As an outlook, in order to further penetrate the

Project loon.

market by Loon base Internet, how should the

Google improve on its product? Please provide

To explore the brief introduction of the

ii.

To survey the Project Loon.

iii.

To investigate the Future of Project

stepwise long-term strategy for the Loon to set a

development plan in terms of both marketing

Loon which help the whole world as

and technology.

conclusion.

4. METHODOLOGY:
The present paper has referred the secondary
data available on the internet and referred some
journals to get the brief information on the
valuable invention by Google known as Project

5.

Figure : Google Project Loon

EXPLORATION

OF

THE

OBJECTIVES:
2.BACKGROUND:
Project loon is a research and development
project being enveloped by Google. It is a

THE BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF THE

PROJECT LOON

network of balloons travelling on the edge of

Project Loon is network of the balloons

space, designed to provide ubiquitous Internet

travelling on the border of space, intended to

connectivity.

the

connect people in rural and remote areas. In the

stratosphere, twice as high as airplanes and the

case of satellite systems, the satellite is rotating

weather. They are carried around the Earth by

over the earth from a fixed point, but in the case

winds and they can be steered by rising or

of the Project Loon, the loons are floating in the

descending to an altitude with winds moving in

stratosphere following its east-west winds across

the desired direction. People connect to the

the globe. While Google is able to control it to a

The

balloons

float

in

limited extent of their speed, spacing and

direction of travel by moving the balloons up
and down into different air currents. The loons
largely go to the wind flowing direction. You
can think the loon as a mobile network in
reverse. Instead of having a fixed grid of towers
among which millions of subscribers are
moving. Loon will be having a fixed grid of
subscribers while the towers move from place to
place overhead [8].

Figure : Snapshot of Project Loon

Consequently, Project Loon has to deal

with many of the same problems faced by the
mobile operators in getting the Loon to work.

6.HOW LOONS DESIGNED?

One of those problems is flexibility. In mobile

network the speed, capacity, and network

The loon is comprised of three parts: an

performance tend to suffer as you and your

envelope, solar panels and equipment.

Smartphone move further away from the

network. In the case of Loon, homes and
business will stay put on the network but loon
transmitters will appear and disappear over the
horizon, handing off their signals to the next
approaching balloon. That means your loon
connection will be in constant

state

of

topological flux, continuously moving from cell

center to cell edge. Here the Loon engineers
have created a reflecting plate in its equipment
which will capture the signals even the
transmitter path is at an extreme obtuse angle
[3].

6.1.Envelope:

The balloon envelope is the name for the

Its envelope is made from sheets of Mylar which

inflatable part of the balloon. Project Loons

is a brand for a thin strong polyester film about

balloon envelopes are made from sheets of

0.076 mm thick. Such super pressure balloons

polyethylene plastic and stand fifteen meters

require Mylar since it strongly keeps from

wide by twelve meters tall when fully inflated.

stretching and popping at even high altitude. It is

The balloon powers itself by two renewable

built to resist higher pressures than a normal

energies, sunlight and wind.

weather balloon which reaches usually at an

altitude of 40 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.

6.2.Solar Pannels:

6.3.Equipment:

A small box containing the balloons electronic

equipment

hangs

underneath

the

inflated

envelope, like the basket that is carried by a hot

air balloon.
Each units 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.

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.

By moving with the wind and charging in the

sun, Project Loon is able to power itself using
only renewable energy sources.

frequencies. Additionally, these also avoids

interferences

and

reaches

much

further

distances. Because it does not support Wi-Fi,

smart phones such as iPhone 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.

7.

WORKING

PROCESS

OF

PROJECT LOON :
Project Loon is of network of balloons travelling
on the edge of space, designed to connect people

6.4.Reception(Antenna):

in rural and remote areas, help fill coverage

gaps, and bring people back online after disaster.
Most communications satellites are following
the earths rotation over the same fixed point on
the planet surface. But in the case of Loon, the
balloons

are

floating

in

the

stratosphere

following its east-west winds across the globe.

While Google will be able to control to a limited
extent their spacing, speed and direction of
It can provide wireless Internet connectivity to

travel by moving the balloons up and down into

ground areas at up to 10Mbps (3G speed). There

different air currents, the balloons will largely go

are two kinds of communications: balloon-to-

where the winds take them. You can think of

balloon network and balloon-to-ground station

Loon

or subscribers network. It has specialized radio

Consequently, Project Loon has to deal with

antennas to support two networks. It currently

many of the same problems faced by mobile

uses ISM bands specifically 2.4 and 5.8 GHz

operators in getting Loon to work. One of those

bands because they are typically unlicensed

problems is resilience. In the mobile network,

radio frequencies around the world, which

speed, capacity and network performance tend to

means Google is able to avoid negotiating with

suffer as you and your smart phone move further

local governments to purchase specific radio

as

mobile

network

in

reverse.

away from the tower. In the case of Loon, homes

balloon, and its helium gas filling, is to get the

and

Loon

real tech wizardry in the air and keep it there.

transmitters will appear and disappear over the

Each unit carries a mini Linux-based computer,

horizon, handing off their signals to the next

toting the all-important Wi-Fi radios, GPS and

approaching balloon. That means your Loon

several sensors recording air temperature,

connection will be in constant

of

altitude and speed of movement. All of this

topological flux, continuously moving from cell

information is sent to Google's Command

centre to cell edge. The design results in uniform

Centre on the ground below where the each

signal strength regardless of whether balloon is

balloon can be controlled to a certain degree.

directly over your home or on the horizon [2].

Once it has reached the altitude of 20km

businesses

will

stay put

but

state

(65,000ft), it's will end its ascent. Then, as

Google explains: "Signals are transmitted from
the balloons to a specialized Internet antenna
mounted to the side of a home or workplace
that use radio frequency technology. The
Internet antenna is connected to a consumer
grade router. Web traffic that travels through

Figure 3: Working Process of Project

HOW LOON WORKS:

the balloon network is ultimately relayed to

Project Loon balloons travel around 20 km

ground stations, where it's connected to pre-

above the earths surface in the stratosphere and

existing Internet infrastructure, like fiber cables

generally steady and slow-moving at between 5

and our local telecommunications partners. At

and 20 mph, and each layer of wind varies in

stratospheric altitudes which are twice as high

direction and magnitude. Project Loon uses

as commercial aircraft fly, so there'll be no

software algorithms to determine where its

unfortunate accidents. There wind currents tend

balloon needs to go then moves each one into a

to move in very specific directions. Google's

layer of wind blowing in the right direction. By

Loon uses a custom-built, solar powered pump

moving with the wind, the balloons can be

to carefully inflate or deflate the balloon

arranged to form one large communications

remotely from the ground. The idea is that each

network. These massive structures are 15-

balloon rises and falls to the required height in

meters wide and made a from polyethylene film

order to move in the required direction at the

that's

required speed. From there, they're like

supermarket carrier bag, but still thick enough

sailboats, which are designed and eventually be

to withstand high altitude air pressures without

able to stay in the air for 100 days at a time.

exploding. However, the responsibility of the

When they reach the end of their shift, they can

only

three

times

thicker

than

be directed to a designated rescue centers

miles in diameter at speeds comparable to 3G.

around the world and replaced. Each balloon is

The specialized antennas can be placed on

networked to one another with a radio

homes, much like a very small satellite TV

transceiver as in a mesh, designed to ensure

receiver. Project Loon currently uses ISM bands

signal reliability. A second transceiver keeps

(specifically 2.4 and 5.8 GHz bands) that are

the balloon in contact with a network station on

available for anyone to use. There is also a back-

the ground and beams an Internet signal to

up transceiver and a GPS on each balloon, so

specialized antennas that can be placed on

Google can monitor each balloon's location.

homes, much like a very small satellite TV

receiver. There is also a back-up transceiver
and a GPS on each balloon, so Google can
monitor a balloon's location. And each balloon
will carry weather instruments, too. A solar
collector powers the balloons systems during
the day, and also charges a battery for nighttime use. The balloons maintain their positions
by reading the predictable air currents that
occur at their high altitude and slightly
adjusting their heights to stay in roughly the
same area [9].

9.LOONS MOVEMENTS:
Project Loon balloons travel around 65,000 feet
above the Earths surface in the stratosphere.
Winds in the stratosphere are generally steady
and slow-moving at between 5 and 20 mph, and

8.LOONS CONNECTIONS:

each layer of wind varies in direction and

magnitude. Due to the wind properties, balloons

Far below the loons, ground stations providing

can travel along latitude line with a 5 o latitude

connectivity to backbone Internet can transmit

range. Project Loon uses software algorithms to

signals to the balloons up to 65 miles far. The

determine where its balloons need to go, then

signals would hop forward, from one balloon to

moves each one into a layer of wind blowing in

the next, along a chain of up to 5 balloons. Each

the right direction. By moving with the wind, the

balloon is networked to one another within 30

balloons can be arranged to form one large

miles with a radio transceiver as in a

mesh,

communications network. The Loon team can

designed to ensure signal reliability. A second

access the web-based control system from any

transceiver

computer or tablet.

keeps

the

balloon

in

contact

hundreds of antennas on ground area about 25

C. Need dedicated personnel to conduct

regular

maintenance

and

troubleshooting.
D. Labor 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 5 latitude range,

10.COST: (estimated

so

according to current

be

aware

of

coverage

limitation of balloons from one balloon

market prices)

station.

A. Balloon

please

Polyethylene
manufactured

plastic
by

Raven

envelops

F. Antenna for users

Aerostar:

Antenna: $500

$4,000

11.CURRENT PROGRESS

Helium gas per loon per flight: $2,000

The Project Loon pilot test began in June 2013

100W

on the 40th parallel south*. Thirty balloons,

solar panels (5ft 5ft): $500

launched from New Zealands South Island,

Navigation control system: $1000

beamed Internet to a small group of pilot testers.

Equipment box (circuit boards, radio

The experience of these pilot testers is now

antennae, GPS, weather instruments and

being used to refine the technology and shape

batteries): $12,000

the next phase of Project Loon.

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.

Pilot test project in New Zealand.

the Loon balloon Project Loon is clearly an asset

to Google. However, it is also a convenience to
the rest of the world. One of the most obvious
avails of the project is the Availability of
Information. Assuming all the mechanisms of
the project are functioning as planned, every
single person who has access to some device

12. ADVANTAGES:

that has wifi access would be able to search for

almost any form of media online. Farmers in

Initially, when the project was announced, it

remote corners of third world countries would

appeared as if Google is spending mi`llions of

be able to research and analyze multiple

dollars on a project providing internet to billions

techniques that could increase their yield, a

of people without any form of payment in

father would be able to stay in touch with his

return. So, how will Google make any profit

daughter no matter which township either one of

from this project? Considering that Google is an

them lived in, villagers across an country would

advertisement company, increasing the volume

be able to transparently examine the countries

of internet users would invariably increase

political

traffic on the worlds leading search engine,

Internet antennae on the ground, and batteries to

Google Search. This accrual in search users

store solar power so the balloons can operate

implies that more ads will be displayed, swelling

during the night. Each balloons electronics are

Googles pockets even deeper. Also, considering

powered by an array of solar panels that sit

that todays internet marketing model requires

between the envelope and the hardware.

purchasers to manually install a router in their

13.DISADVANTAGES:

houses, Loon will already have a distinct

dominance. Adopting Loon as your internet
connection would require no external hardware,
decreasing barriers that users would have to deal
with when deciding whether or not to get an
internet connection. Googles competitors that
also provide similar services like Time Warner
Cable will automatically have a reduced market
share. Also Space Systems would also be at a
disadvantage since their satellites cost more to
maintain by multiple levels of magnitude than

scenario

and

vote

appropriately.

The main problem with launching any hardware

project is the certainty of eventual hardware
failure. In most cases, the hardware is usually
accessible and can be fixed. However, for
airplanes, rockets, satellites, and now Loon
balloons, hardware failure is a huge problem as
they cannot be reached. If a Loon balloon fails,
it can either remain up in the air floating,
making it difficult to bring down or it might go
down in unwanted areas. Both of these scenarios
are a huge concern to the stability as well as the

safety of people whose lives might be affected

15.REFERENCES:

by unwanted balloon landings. Another concern

over this project is internet privacy since it gives

[1]. IJCAE, Special Issue, December 2013, 203-

Google more power over a wider range of

consumer

behavior.

This

information

can

become a security issue if it is shared with

Government agencies like the NSA.

14.CONCLUSION:

205.
[2].

Marc

Petron

marc@engadget.com,

engadget.com
[3]. John Dix
Editor in Chief
jdix@nww.com, networkworld.com

The system is still just experimental by Google,

[4]. Paul McNamara

but everyone believes it will eventually bring

Online News Editor

Internet access to many parts of the world where

pmcnamara@nww.com

people have little or no connectivity. They are

[5]. En.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Loon

lower cost and less roundtrip time than a

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

satellite, and, given enough of these in the air at

[7]. www.googleimages.com/projectloon/

any given moment in any given location, higher

[8]. Wisconsin Project loon watch Report,

capacity via the multiplicative effect associated

with wireless meshes.
Though some issues are rising against project.
The project is now working out how to make the
balloons stay in the area where they're wanted.
Not surprisingly, it's solving this with some
complex algorithms and lots of computing
power. Project Loon is now looking expand the
pilot in countries at the same latitude as New
Zealand. Might be Google can come with
reliable cost. If this project went succeeded the
world is going to experience new things.

University of Minnesota.