Project Loon - internet connection via balloon

Google is developing its next ambitious project , which came from the depths of laboratories Google X. It is called Project Loon and provides launch a huge number of giant balloons to create an online coverage in the most remote and undeveloped regions of the Earth . System tests took place in the Nevada desert (USA) 160 kilometers from the small town with a population of about Carlin 3000. Permission to do so issued by the Federal Communications Commission (US Federal Communications Commission, FCC).

Project for its intended purpose is very similar to the previously described concept of unmanned airship StratoBus ( see note "StratoBus - unmanned airship project with flies in the stratosphere " ) . Balloons Project Loon also plan to use in the upper atmosphere . However, unlike the concept StratoBus, now Google has created a system that allows devices to keep for a long time at an altitude of 20 kilometers , while providing the speed of Internet connections at the level of modern 3G cellular or even higher.
Each unit consists of " envelope" includes its own polyethylene sheath balloon and 10 -kilogram " payload " of the electronics , antennas , solar panels and other components required for the operation .
To avoid permanent balloons drift caused by wind , Google uses sophisticated algorithms and considerable computing resources in order to move the devices in the desired direction . In theory, this system should allow the creation of a worldwide whole wireless network balloons, constantly moving and reset (something like a mass of cheap satellites flying at stratospheric altitudes) .