ad: Annual 2024 Now Open For Entries!
*

Google and the Looney Balloons

Published by

In this perpetually advancing technological age, we've developed a habit of taking things for granted, particularly when it comes to the internet. Just yesterday in fact, I recall sitting across from a frumpy young woman in a local eatery, who was moaning loudly about the lacklustre speed of the FREE wi-fi connection. If Google have their way though, it would seem that such mild inconveniences will be a thing of the past before long. Indeed, it's in Google's best interests to make sure we're online all the time, regardless of who or where we are.

Google have unleashed a new video showing off the bonkers (but admittedly rather cool) and aptly named Project Loon

*

A case in point; the online kingpins have unleashed a new video showing off the bonkers (but admittedly rather cool) and aptly named Project Loon. This ambitious initiative will (in a nutshell) see flocks of balloons sent into the sky across the world to push internet signal into areas that would otherwise struggle to even download a jpeg, let alone a high definition copy of the latest episode of Game of Thrones. The high-altitude balloons can now be kept afloat for up to 100 days at a time, and can be built in a matter of hours, so there could be thousands of them in the sky by the end of the year. A control centre will help guide each balloon to an area to ensure Google's fleet is providing the best coverage where Internet is needed, while an operations team will be dispatched to collect the balloons when they land. The aim of the project is to bring internet access to the 2 out of 3 people in the world who aren't currently connected, and it's come a long way since it was first announced back in June 2013.

The aim of the project is to bring internet access to the 2 out of 3 people in the world who aren't currently connected

*

Whilst it might have only been announced in 2013, Google has actually been working on Project Loon for almost four years now and has been testing the balloons and their accompanying technologies in locations such as Australia, parts of Latin America and in New Zealand, having signed partnership agreements with local telecommunications companies including Telstra, Telefonica and Vodafone.

 In tests, balloons have been released in both tropical and arctic areas and according to project leader (and head loon) Mike Cassidy, they "Have been going great” so far. But then, would he really say otherwise?

Project Loon: Scaling Up

The plan is for the balloons to rise to altitudes of about 32 kilometres to create a wireless network carried by the wind with “Up to” 3G-like speeds. Google claims it can control the balloons to such an extent that he they can safely navigate through 200 mph jet-stream winds, but several Loon balloons have already returned from whence they came, and not quite in the same place from which they were launched. Still, it's a constantly developing technology, and balloons can now be launched (a dozen at a time) via automated cranes, whereas before launching them was a manual task.

The behind-the-scenes video features Mike Cassidy explaining the challenges the team faced during the creation of the project, and how they overcame them

*

The behind-the-scenes video features Cassidy explaining the challenges the team faced during the creation of the project, and how they overcame them. Google themselves explained in a statement: “When we launched Project Loon in 2013 we hoped to answer a single question; could balloons be used to connect people to the Internet? Proving that this was possible in our New Zealand launch then led the team to start asking a much larger question; how can we make this work for everyone, no matter where they are in the world? How do you manufacture enough balloons to be able to provide coverage anywhere in the world and then launch them and control them so that there is always a balloon overhead to provide connection to the user on the ground?” These are all questions that only a company as forward-thinking (and wealthy) as Google would ask, and whilst they might get a fair amount of flak from certain corners of the internet, I welcome the idea of never again having to settle for shitty internet signal, even if I'm camping up a mountain in Vietnam.

Google also recently acquired a company called Titan Aerospace, which is now working to launch unmanned gliders to provide low-cost internet access to developing countries

*

In related news, Google also recently acquired a company called Titan Aerospace, which is now working with the Loon team to launch unmanned gliders into the air to provide low-cost internet access to developing countries. Facebook was in talks to acquire the technology from the company, but Google swooped in and bought the company outright from under their noses. Classic Google move! Titan's solar-powered drones are capable of flying for up to five years, providing an internet connection over a span of 1,000 miles. Of course, Google may be interested in more than providing network coverage. The same drones could be used to take more detailed aerial photos for Google Maps and Google Earth. That is, if Google like making money, which I'm pretty sure they do!

*

Benjamin Hiorns is a freelance writer and struggling musician from Kidderminster in the UK. He is beginning to think there is literally nothing Google won't do.

Comments

More Leaders

*

Leaders

Inspiring Female Leaders: An Interview with RAPP CEO Gabrielle Ludzker

Gabrielle Ludzker is not just any CEO. The current head honcho at customer experience agency RAPP has spent her career breaking away from the traditional corporate CEO stereotype. and leads to inspire rule breakers. Gabby is an inspirational rule...

Posted by: Benjamin Hiorns
ad: Annual 2024 Now Open For Entries!