SEMINAR REPORT

AIRBORNE INTERNET
Submitted in the partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award of degree of

BACHELOR OF COMPUTER SCIENCE

Done by

AJAI K A
Reg No: 130021026872
Under the guidance of

Mrs.SWAPANA M
Lecturer
STAS Edappally

MAHATMA GANDHI UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY AND APPLIED SCIENCES
REGIONAL CENTER, EDAPPALLY

MAHATMA GANDHI UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY AND APPLIED SCIENCES
REGIONAL CENTER, EDAPPALLY

2013-2016
DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE

Certificate
Certified that the seminar entitled AIRBORNE INTERNET is a
bonofide record of work done by AJAI K A with Reg.No:
130021026872 in partial fulfillment of the requirement for award of
Bachelor of Computer Science of Mahatma Gandhi University,
Kottayam.

Internal Guide

Internal Examiner

Head of Dept.

(seal)

Regional Director

External Examiner

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First, I express my gratitude to Dr.S.Krishnakumar, Regional Director

School of Technology and Applied Sciences, Edappally for his official help and
Mr.Thirumeni K.R, Head of the Department for carry out the seminar successfully.
I sincerely thank to Mrs.Swapana M, Lecturer computer science, STAS for her
guidance and support and help rendered towards the seminar work. I also thank for
my parents, teachers and friends for their continuous support.
AJAI K A

BSC COMPUTER
SCIENCE

AIRBORNE
INTERNET

CONTENTS

1.

ABSTRACT

2.

BACKGROUND 3

3.

INTRODUCTION

4.

HALO AIRCRAFT 7

5.

HALO NETWORK

5.1

KEY FEATURES 9

5.2

SERVICE AREA 9

5.3

SERVICE ATTRIBUTES 9

6.
ARCHITECTURE

HALO NETWORK
10

6.1

NETWORK ELEMENTS 10

6.2

NETWORK ARCHITECTURE 11

6.3

FIELD OF VIEW 11

7.

APPLICATIONS 12

8.

FUTURE PLANS

8.1
8.1.1 ADVANTAGES
8.2
BLIMPS
9.
10.

STAS EDAPALLY

13

NASAS HELIOS 13
15
SKY STATION INTERNATIONAL
15
CONCLUSION 16
REFERENCE

17

1. ABSTRACT

The word on just about every Internet user's lips these days is "broadband." We have
so much more data to send and download today, including audio files, video files and photos,
that it's clogging our wimpy modems. Many Internet users are switching to cable modems
and digital subscriber lines (DSLs) to increase their bandwidth. There's also a new type of
service being developed that will take broadband into the air. In this paper, we'll learn about
the future of the Airborne Internet. We'll take a look at the networks in development, the
aircraft and how consumers may use this technology.
Land-based lines are limited physically in how much data they can deliver because of
the diameter of the cable or phone line. In an airborne Internet, there is no such physical
limitation, enabling a broader capacity. The airborne Internet will function much like
satellite-based Internet access, but without the time delay. The airborne Internet will actually
be used to compliment the satellite and ground-based networks, not replace them. These
airborne networks will overcome the last-mile barriers facing conventional Internet access
options.
This paper addresses some of the trends and issues involved in developing an Airborne
Internet capable of achieving this goal. Understanding relationships between these trends and
issues and the objectives and functional requirements of the program will allow various
participants in this complex program to keep activities in proper perspective. The all-round
development and improvement are the key areas of research work performed in this paper.

2. BACKGROUND
Given the lack of infrastructure to support the current and projected demands for
broadband data communication, an intense race has begun to deploy broadband networks. To
satisfy businesses and consumers, Internet Service providers ("ISPs") are the majors in
delivering internet access service.
Today the access service is provided by five types of competitors:
1. National ISPs ( e.g. AOL, CompuServe, Microsoft Network, VSNL)
2. Regional Bell Operating Companies ("RBOCs")
3. Independent (Local) ISPs
4. Cable Operators
5. Wire service providers (Satellites, or terrestrial wireless )

About 70 percent of homes occupied by customers are being served by large national
ISPs. The remaining 30 percent of customer's homes are being served by local ISPs that
range in size from hundreds to tens of thousands of customers. Most consumers are utilizing
29\8.8 Kbps dial- up modems, and a small percent have already migrated to 56 Kbps
modems. Most businesses are utilizing DS-1 connections (1.544Mbps).

3. INTRODUCTION

The word on just about every Internet user's lips these days is "broadband." We have so
much more data to send and download today, including audio files, video files and photos,
that it's clogging our wimpy modems. There's a new type of service being developed that will
take broadband into the air.
The communication payload of HALO aircraft is at the apex of a wireless supermetropolitan area network. The links are wireless, broadband and line of sight. Subscribers
access service on demand and will be able to exchange video, high-resolution images, and
large data files. Information addressed to non-subscribers or to recipients beyond the regions
served by the HALO network will be routed through the dedicated HALO Gateway
connected to the public switched network or via business premise equipment owned and
operated by service providers connected to the public networks.

This diagram shows how the HALO Network will enable a highspeed wireless Internet connection

At least three companies are planning to provide high-speed wireless Internet

connection by placing aircraft in fixed patterns over hundreds of cities. Angel Technologies
is planning an airborne Internet network, called High Altitude Long Operation (HALO),
which would use lightweight planes to circle overhead and provide data delivery faster than
a T1 line for businesses. Consumers would get a connection comparable to DSL. Also,
AeroVironment has teamed up with NASA on a solar-powered, unmanned plane that would
work like the HALO network, and Sky Station International is planning a similar venture
using blimps instead of planes.
The computer most people use comes with a standard 56K modem, which means that
in an ideal situation your computer would downstream at a rate of 56 kilobits per second
(Kbps). That speed is far too slow to handle the huge streaming-video and music files that
more consumers are demanding today. That's where the need for bigger bandwidth -broadband -- comes in, allowing a greater amount of data to flow to and from your computer.
Land-based lines are limited physically in how much data they can deliver because of the
diameter of the cable or phone line. In an airborne Internet, there is no such physical
limitation, enabling a broader capacity.
Several companies have already shown that satellite Internet access can work. The
airborne Internet will function much like satellite-based Internet access, but without the time
delay. Bandwidth of satellite and airborne Internet access are typically the same, but it will
take less time for the airborne Internet to relay data because it is not as high up. Satellites
orbit at several hundreds of miles above Earth. The airborne-Internet aircraft will circle
overhead at an altitude of 52,000 to 69,000 feet (15,849 to 21,031 meters). At this altitude,
the aircraft will be undisturbed by inclement weather and flying well above commercial air
traffic.
Networks using high-altitude aircraft will also have a cost advantage over satellites
because the aircraft can be deployed easily they don't have to be launched into space.
However, the airborne Internet will actually be used to compliment the satellite and ground-

based networks, not replace them. These airborne networks will overcome the last-mile
barriers facing

conventional Internet access options. The "last mile" refers to the fact that access to highspeed cables still depends on physical proximity, and for this reason, not everyone who
wants can access it. It would take a lot of time to provide universal access using cable or
phone lines, just because of the time it takes to install the wires. An airborne network will
immediately overcome the last mile as soon as the aircraft takes off.
The airborne Internet won't be completely wireless. There will be ground-based
components to any type of airborne Internet network. The consumers will have to install an
antenna on their home or business in order to receive signals from the network hub
overhead. The networks will also work with established Internet Service Providers (ISPs),
who will provide their high-capacity terminals for use by the network. These ISPs have a
fiber point of presence their fiber optics are already set up. What the airborne Internet will do
is provide an infrastructure that can reach areas that don't have broadband cables and wires.
The HALO network will provide consumers with a broadband digital utility for
accessing multimedia services, the internet, and entertainment services. The network at the
subscriber's premise will be standards based and employ a user interface as simple as today's
typical consumer modem. Consumers will be able to access video, data, and the internet
rates ranging from 1 to 5 Mbps. Angle will offer higher data rates at the broadband market
matures.

4. HALO AIRCRAFT
An airplane specially designed for high altitude flight with a payload capacity of
approximately one ton is being developed for commercial wireless services. It will circle at
high altitudes for extended periods of time and it will serve as a stable platform from which
broadband communications services will be offered. The High Altitude Long Operation
(HALO) Aircraft will maintain station at an altitude of 52 to 60 thousand feet by flying in
a circle with a diameter of about 5 to 8 nautical miles. Three successive shifts on station of 8
hours each can provide continuous coverage of an area for 24 hours per day, 7 days per
week. Such a system can provide broadband multimedia communications to the general
public.
The aircraft has been specially designed for the HALO Network with the Communications
Payload Pod suspended from the underbelly of its fuselage.

HALO Aircraft with Suspended Communications Payload

The Communications Payload Pod is mounted to a pylon under the fuselage. As the
aircraft varies its roll angle to fly in the circular orbit, the Communications Payload Pod will
pivot on the pylon to remain level with the ground.

The HALO Network provides an alternative to satellite- and ground-based systems.

Unlike satellite systems, however, the airborne system concentrates all of the spectrum usage
in certain geographic areas, which minimizes frequency coordination problems and permits

sharing of frequency with ground-based systems. Enough power is available from the
aircraft power generator to allow broadband data access from small user terminals.

5. HALO NETWORK

The attributes of the HALO Network are illustrated in the fig. below. Many types of
subscribers will benefit from the low price of HALO Network broadband services schools,
families, hospitals, doctor's offices, and small to medium size businesses. The equipment
will connect to existing network and telecommunications equipment using standard
broadband protocols such as ATM and SONET. The HALO Gateway provides access to
the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and to the internet backbone for such
services as the World Wide Web and electronic commerce.

5.1KEY FEATURES
The key features the HALO Network are summarized below
1. Seamless ubiquitous multimedia services
2. Adaptation to end user environments
3. Enhanced user connectivity globally
4. Rapidly deployable to sites of opportunity
5. Secure and reliable information transactions
6. Bandwidth on demand provides efficient use of available spectrum

5.2 SERVICE AREA

Most metropolitan areas will fit within a signal "footprint" of 40-60 miles diameter. The
following figure shows the coverage of a 50-mile HALO Network service-area footprint
for the New York City metropolitan area. Notice that "double coverage" of certain areas
occurs due to overlapping adjacent footprints. This provides higher reliability links and
reduces blocking factors on requests for service. The footprint over Manhattan covers 4.8
million households or
12.5 million people.

5.3 SERVICE ATTRIBUTES

There are various classes of service to be provided .A consumer service would provide
1- 5 Mbps communication links. A business service would provides 5-12.5 Mbps links .Since
the links would be "bandwidth-on-demand," the total available spectrum would be timeshared between the various active sessions. The nominal data rates would be low while the
peak rates would expand to a specified level. A gateway service can be provided for
"dedicated" links of 25- 155 Mbps. Based on the LMDS spectrum and 5-fold reuse, the

service capacity would be 10000 to 75000 simultaneously , symmetrical T1 circuits (1.5

Mbps) per communication payload. The HALO Aircraft would provide urban and rural
coverage from a single platform to provide service to:
1. 100-750000 subscribers

2. 40-60 mile diameter service area (1250 to 2800 square miles)

6.HALO NETWORK ARCHITECTURE

6.1 NETWORK ELEMENTS

The major elements of the HALO Network are shown below. The HALO
Network interfaces to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and to the Internet
backbone through the HALO Gateway. On the subscriber side, the HALO Network
provides connectivity to local network provides connectivity to local networks of various
kinds.

STAS EDAPALLY

The HALO Network Architecture

6.2 NETWORK ARCHITECTURE

At the apex of a wireless Cone of Commerce, the payload of the HALO Aircraft
becomes the hub of a star topology network for routing data packets between any two
subscribers possessing premise equipment within the service coverage area. A single hop
with only two links is required, each link connecting the payload to a subscriber. The links
are wireless, broadband and line of sight.

6.3 FIELD OF VIEW

Angel assumes the "minimum look angle" (i.e., the elevation angle above the local horizon
to the furthest point on the orbit as seen by the antenna of the premise equipment) is
generally higher than 20 degrees. This value corresponds to subscribers at the perimeter of
the service footprint. In contrast, cellular telephone designers assume that the line of sight
from a customer to the antenna on the nearest base station is less than 1 degree. Angel chose
such a high look angle to ensure that the antenna of each subscriber's premise equipment will
very likely have access to a solid angle swept by the circling HALO Aircraft free of dense
objects, and to ensure high availability of the service during heavy rainfall to all subscribers.

STAS EDAPALLY

11

The high look angle also allows the sharing of this spectrum with ground-based wireless
networks since usually high-gain, narrow beams are used and the antenna beams of the
HALO and ground-based networks will be separated in angle far enough to ensure a high
degree of signal isolation.

HALO Aircraft Field of

View
7.APPLICATIONS
Since the Airborne Internet provides broad band services, it increases the speed of
downloading & uploading of data through it. primary application for A.I. is to track aircraft
for the air traffic control system. Aircraft pilots would let the traffic controllers know where
they are through the network. The network would give the crew information that would help
them avoid collisions. It would also allow information to be sent from aircraft to aircraft
without having to go through ground facilities. The system could also be used to send safety
warnings to aircraft. It has the potential to provide significant cost savings for aircrafts

operators and the FAA, as it allows the consolidation of many functions into a common data
channel. Numerous applications can use the same data channel Using XML aviation
services, aircraft operators

could receive automatic updates of weather, landing conditions at the destination airport,
turbulence ahead, and other information. Airborne Internet could be the means by which the
aviation industry will realize these benefits by providing XML services capability to aircraft.

8.FUTURE PLANS

8.1 NASA'S HELIOS

Not to be left out of the high-flying Internet industry, NASA is also playing a role in a
potential airborne Internet system being developed by AeroVironment. NASA and
AeroVironment are working on a solar-powered, lightweight plane that could fly over a city
for six months or more, at 60,000 feet, without landing. AeroVironment plans to use these
unmanned planes as the carrier to provide broadband Internet access.

The Helios aircraft will be equipped with telecommunications equipment

and
stay airborne for six months straight.

Helios is currently in the prototype stage, and there is still a lot of testing to be done
to

achieve the endurance levels needed for AeroVironment's telecommunications system.

AeroVironment plans to launch its system within three years of receiving funding for the
project. When it does, a single Helios airplane flying at 60,000 feet will cover a service area
approximately 40 miles in diameter.

Helios Aircraft
Weight

2,048 pounds (929 kg)

Wingspan

247 ft (75.3 m)

Length

12 ft (3.7 m)

Wing Area

1,976 square ft (183.6 m2)

14 brushless, 2-horsepower,

Propulsion
direct-current electric motors
1 to 3 hours in prototype tests
Range
6 months when fully operational
Speed

19 to 25 mph (30.6 to 40.2 kph)

The Helios prototype is constructed out of materials such as carbon fiber, graphite
epoxy, Kevlar and Styrofoam, covered with a thin, transparent skin. The main pole
supporting the wing is made out of carbon fiber, and is thicker on the top than on the bottom
in order to absorb the constant bending during flight. The wing's ribs are made of epoxy and
carbon fiber. Styrofoam comprises the wing's front edge, and a clear, plastic film is wrapped
around the entire wing body.
The all-wing plane is divided into six sections, each 41 ft (12.5 m) long. A pod
carrying the landing gear is attached under the wing portion of each section. These pods also
house the batteries, flight-control computers and data instrumentation. Network hubs for
AeroVironment's telecommunications system would likely be placed here as well.

8.1.1 ADVANTAGES
Unique feature of these solar-electric air-craft that make then appealing platforms for
telecommunications applications include:

Long flight durations up to 6 months or more.

Minimal maintenance cost due to few moving parts.

High levels of redundancy (e. g. aircraft could lose multiple motors and still maintain station
and land safely - most failure modes do not require immediate response by ground operator)

Highly autonomous controls which enable one ground operator to control multiple aircraft.

Use of solar energy to minimize fuel costs.

Tight turn radius which makes platform appear geostationary from ground equipment
perspective (i. e. enables use of stationary antennas) and enables multiple aircraft to serve
same area using same frequency spectrum.

Flexible flight facility requirements (aircraft can take off from even a dirt field and in less
distance than the length of its wingspan.

8.2 SKY STATION INTERNATIONALS BLIMPS

This company envisions of deploying blimps over at least 250 cities worldwide, one over
each city. Each station would fly at an altitude of 13 miles (21 km) and provide wireless
service to an area of approximately 7,500 square miles (19,000 square km). Each station
equipped with heavy telecommunication devices and fly at an altitude of 13 miles (21 km)
and provide wireless service to an area of approximately 7,500 square miles (19,000 square

km). Sky Station says that its user terminals will enable broadband connections of between 2
and 10 megabits per second (Mbps).

Blimps by sky station international

BLIMPS

Diameter

203 ft (62m)

Length

515 ft (157m)

Width

Approx 300 ft (91m)

Power

Solar and fuel cells

8.CONCLUSION

Finally I conclude that the HALO aircraft can be thought of as a very tall tower or very low
altitude satellite. Contracted to terrestrial broadband networks, the HALO Network offers
ubiquitous, anyone-to-anyone broadband linkages throughout the footprint. HALO networks
can be introduced to highly promising markets around the world on a selective basis.
"Continuous improvement" is a significant attribute of the HALO network. It enables Angel
to meet the increasing expectations of present customers, and to open new markets requiring
lesser capability by re-assigning earlier-generation hubs.

REFERENCES
1. N. Colella and J. Martin, "The Cone of Commerce," Proc. of the SPIE International
Symposium on Voice, Video, and Data Communications: Broadband Engineering for
Multimedia Markets, 1997.
2. G. Djuknic, J. Freidenfelds, et al., "Establishing Wireless Communications Services via
High-Altitude Aeronautical Platforms: A Concept Whose Time Has Come?," IEEE
Communications Magazine, September 1997.

STAS EDAPALLY

STAS EDAPALLY

21

STAS EDAPALLY

STAS EDAPALLY

31