Seminar Report On

Project Loon
Submitted by

Jatin Sanjay Shinde

(72147437D and 22557)

Savitribai Phule Pune University

In partial fulfillment of requirements in the Degree of

Bachelor of Engineering (TE)

In

Artificial Intelligence and Data Science

Guided by

Prof. Priyanka Deshpande

DEPARTMENT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND

DATA SCIENCE

PES’S MODERN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING,

SHIVAJINAGAR, PUNE 05

2022-23
 PES’S MODERN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, PUNE

DEPARTMENT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND DATA

SCIENCE

Certificate
This is to certify that the project-based seminar report entitled” Project Loon”
being submitted by Jatin Sanjay Shinde (72147437D/22557) is a record of bonafide
work carried out by him/her under the supervision and guidance of Prof. Priyanka
Deshpande in partial fulfillment of the requirement for TE (Information Technology
Engineering) 2015 course of Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune in the academic
year 2022-2023.

Date: 25-11-2022

Place: Pune

Prof. Priyanka Deshpande Dr. Prof. Mrs. Shraddha Pandit

Guide Head of the Department

Dr. Mrs. K. R. Joshi

Principal

This Project Based Seminar report has been examined by us as per the Savitribai
Phule Pune University, Pune requirements at Progressive Education Society’s
Modern College of Engineering, Shivajinagar, Pune - 411005 on 25/11/2022

Internal Examiner External Examiner

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Many people assisted me in successfully finishing this project. I want to thank
everyone involved in this initiative. I’d like to thank my Principal and mentor
Prof. Priyanka Deshpande, who helped me learn a lot about this project. His
ideas and comments aided in the completion of this project.

I am grateful to the college administration for providing me with such a

significant change. I believe I will participate in more such activities in the
future. I guarantee that this project was created entirely by me and is not a
forgery. Finally, I’d like to express my gratitude to my parents and friends for
their excellent comments and guidance during the completion of this project.

Jatin Sanjay Shinde

72147437D

PES's MCOE, Pune 05

 ABSTRACT

As two-thirds of the world's population does not yet have internet

access, "Google's Project Loon" - a network of balloons traveling on the
edge of space - is designed to connect people in rural and remote areas,
helping fill coverage gaps, and bring people back online after natural
disasters. Floating high in the stratosphere - twice as high as airplanes and
the weather - the 'Project loon balloons' 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 network using a
special internet antenna attached to their building. The signal bounces from
balloon to balloon, which then provides a connection back down on earth.
Each miniature blimp can provide connectivity to a ground area about 40 km
in diameter at speeds comparable to 3G. For balloon-to-balloon and balloon-
to-ground communications, the infrastructure use antennas equipped with
specialized radio frequency technology. As part of the 2013 test pilot in New
Zealand, project loon used ISMbands (specifically 2.4 and 5.8 GHz bands)
that are available for anyone to use. Tracking the latest research activity
carried out, one of helium laden balloons of project loon went around the
world in just 22 days, which was originally expected to be done in a span of
33 days.

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 CONTENTS
Chapter Name of Chapter Page Number
No.
1. Introduction 7
1.1 Introduction to SEMINAR TOPIC.
1.2 Motivation behind Project Loon
1.3 Aim and Objective(s) of the work
2. Literature Survey 10
3. Motivation, purpose and scope and objective of 11
seminar
4. About Project Loon 12
a) Loon Design
i) Envelope
ii) Solar Panels
iii) Equipment
5. Future Scope 17
6. Conclusions 18
7. References 19
8. Plagiarism 20
 List of figures

Figure Number Figure Title Page Number

1.1 Project loon diagram 7

overview

1.2 Envelope Diagram 13

1.3 Solar Panels 14

1.4 Detailed components of 14

Project Loon

1.5 Working of loon 15

1.6 Balloon 17

1.7 Manpower Used 18

1.8 Antennas 18

List of Table

Table Number Table Title Table Number

2.1 Research Paper Used 1

 1. INTRODUCTION

1.1Introduction to Project Loon

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
revolution in data services. Even though here 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. 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 of
intensive capital necessary for Internet infrastructure implementation
in many developing areas.

Fig. 1.1: Project Loon Diagram Overview

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1.2 Motivation behind the Project Loon

Project Loon aims to provide internet services to remote parts of the

world. Rather than use underground fiber optic cables or construct
cell towers to connect users, it will use balloons that float in the
stratosphere. That explains the name.
The idea is not just a lot of hot air but has been field tested in New
Zealand and Brazil. The balloons, made by Raven Aerostar, have
been improved. From falling off from the sky in under a week
initially, they now remain afloat for as long as six months. Google
has tied up with three service providers in Indonesia to offer loan
services. An agreement was also signed with Sri Lanka to provide
internet connectivity using 13 balloons.

Access to the internet may seem like a birth right for those in the developed
world. But about two-thirds of the world’s population isn’t on to the world
wide web yet. And the digital divide between developed and developing
countries is growing. Data show that the gap has increased 75 times between
2001 and 2010.

One reason is the cost and practical issues in reaching remote places and
difficult terrain such as jungles and mountains. Providing service from the
sky in regions where infrastructure development on the ground is
challenging can be a viable option. And when there is service disruption due
to a natural calamity — as seen in the recent Chennai floods — the balloons
can be shifted around quickly to ensure that communication systems remain
operational.

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1.3 Aim and Objective(s) of the work

Project Loon aims to provide internet services to remote parts of the

world. Rather than use underground fiber optic cables or construct
cell towers to connect users, it will use balloons that float in the
stratosphere.
The Internet is required to connect people in different parts of the
world. The vitality of the internet allows for innovations in
technologies. There are several parts of the world that still do not
possess internet connectivity (such as rural and distant areas). The
project loon targets such parts of the world and others that have
been hit by natural calamities, and allows them internet
connectivity.

PES's MCOE, Pune 05

 2. LITERATURE SURVEY

Table 2.1: Research Paper Used

Sr. Paper Author Year of Methodology/

No. Title Name Publication Techniques Used

1. A review Prof. Mrs. A. 2016 Conceptual and

paper on G. Andurkar neat
Project understanding
Loon about project
loon
2. Google Shubhdeep 2017 A new way of
LOON: Kaur and providing Internet
Balloon – Sukhchandan to remote areas.
powered Randhwa
Internet
for
everyone

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 3. MOTIVATION, PURPOSE AND SCOPE, AND OBJECTIVE OF
THE PROJECT LOON
Project Loon is a pilot project developed by Google LLC. It is aimed at
providing the internet by using balloons that would trace the
earth. Project Loon was developed with the aim of providing
economic internet access across the world.

It is a research and development (RnD) project that is developed by

Google. It comprises a network of balloons that would float above in the
stratosphere higher than the airplanes and the weather. The Balloons are
carried across the globe with the wind that is used to direct the direction
of the balloons. People using this technology would be able to set up a
connection with the balloons using antennas attached to their buildings.

The Internet is required to connect people in different parts of the world.

The vitality of the internet allows for innovations in technologies. There
are several parts of the world that still do not possess internet connectivity
(such as rural and distant areas). The project loon targets such parts of
the world and others that have been hit by natural calamities, and allows
them internet connectivity.

PES's MCOE, Pune 05

 1. PROJECT LOON
a. LOON DESIGN
The loon is comprised of three parts: an envelope, solar panels, and
equipment.
b. I) Envelope

Fig. 1.2: Envelope Diagram

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 with two
renewable energies, sunlight, and wind.
They are specially constructed for use in Super pressure balloons,
which are resistant to UV radiation, and is capable to function at
temperature as low as -58 °F, and at pressure as low as 1/100 atm.
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 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

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 slowly to the ground. It rarely happens, but when the balloon drops
quickly, it uses the parachute on the top of the envelope.
c. II) SOLAR PANELS

Fig. 1.3 : Solar Panels

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. By moving with the
wind and charging in the sun, Project Loon is able to power itself
using only renewable energy sources.
d. III) EQUIPMENTS
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. It contains circuit boards that control the system,
radio antennas to communicate with other balloons and with
Internet antennas on the ground, batteries to store solar power so the
balloons can operate during the night, and weather instruments to
monitor the weather and the conditions around them.

Fig. 1.4: Detailed components of Project Loon

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 2. HOW LOON WORKS?

Fig. 1.5: 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 neighbouring 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.

PES's MCOE, Pune 05

 3. SOME PRACTICAL PARAMETERS
a) Balloon:
Polyethylene plastic envelops manufactured by Raven

Fig. 1.6: Balloon

Aerostat: $4000
Helium gas per loon per flight: $2000
1000W Solar panels (5ft × 5ft): $500
Navigation Control System: $1000
Equipment box (Circuit Board, radio antennae, GSP, weather
Instruments and batteries): $12000
Re-launch fee for a balloon: $3000
b) Ground Station Connection to Backbone Internet:
Station construction and equipment installation: $102 million
Maintenance: equipment cost is $30000/year and land cost depend
on local market.
c) Balloon Launching and Collecting points:
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.

PES's MCOE, Pune 05

 Fig 1.7.: Manpower Used
d) Manpower:
Need dedicated personnel to conduct regular maintenance and
troubleshooting.
Labour cost varies at different location.
e) Antenna for Use:
Antenna: $500
Assume it could be installed easily so on
Extra labour fee.

Fig. 1.8: Antenna

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 4. FUTURE SCOPE
MDIF plans to formally request NASA to use the International Space
Station to test their technology in September 2014. Manufacturing and
launching of satellites would begin in early 2015, and Outer net is
planned to begin broadcasting in June 2015. Indian company Specify
Inc. is the first private non-profit company which is working with
outernet to provide global free Wi-Fi access. Forget the Internet - soon
there will be the OUTERNET: Company plans to beam free Wi-Fi to
every person on Earth from space.
The New York Company plans to ask NASA to test their
Outernet technology on the International Space. An ambitious project
known as Outernet is aiming to launch hundreds of miniature satellites
into low Earth orbit by June 2015. Each satellite will broadcast the
Internet to phones and computers giving billions of people across the
globe free online access. Citizens of countries like China and North
Korea that have censored online activity could be given free and
unrestricted cyberspace. You might think you have to pay through the
nose at the moment to access the Internet. But one ambitious
organisation called the Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF)
is planning to turn the age of online computing on its head by giving
free web access to every person on Earth. Known as Outernet, MDIF
plans to launch hundreds of satellites into orbit by 2015. And they say
the project could provide unrestricted Internet access to countries
where their web access is censored, including China and North Korea.

PES's MCOE, Pune 05

 5. Conclusion

Although internet has become such a handy thing for people having
access to internet that they roam about with it in their pockets, but this has
been possible for those countries that can afford fibre optic cables for
connectivity and therefore the bitter truth remains that nearly two-thirds of
the world population do not yet have internet access. The Google[X] team
has therefore taken an initiative to bridge this gap and make the world
actually connected to one another by introducing Google’s Project Loon.
This project has come along a long way with successful Pilot Test and also
surpassing many environmental, engineering, political challenges (relating to
use of airspace and radio frequencies) and now is seeking NASA’s
intervention for its success worldwide.

The project aims at: “Forget the Internet, soon there will be OUTERNET”

The success of this project would thereby make us talk about Outernet, may
be, in the next one year and we would put one step forward in connecting the
world into one by our technology.

PES's MCOE, Pune 05

 6. REFERENCES

1. http://www.google.co.in/loon/

2. https://plus.google.com/+ProjectLoon/videos

3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Loon

4. http://techcrunch.com/2014/04/04/googles-project-loon-internet-balloon-
traverses-the-globe-in-under-a-month/

5. http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/04/google-project-loon-world-journey/

6. http://www.cnet.com/news/google-project-loon-balloon-circles-earth-in-a-
record-22-days/

PES's MCOE, Pune 05

 7. Plagiarism

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