Project Loon
Latest
Alphabet will 'wind down' Loon's internet-broadcasting balloons
Google's parent company is shutting down its balloon internet project.
Alphabet’s Loon and AT&T will tackle global crises with internet balloons
AT&T's global roaming partners have integrated with Alphabet's balloon-powered internet project.
Alphabet's Loon turned a stratospheric aircraft into an internet drone
Alphabet's Loon is known for its internet balloons, but it worked on an entirely balloon-less project as part of its partnership with Softbank's HAPSMobile. The two formed "a long-term strategic relationship" in April 2019, with HAPSMobile investing $125 million in the Alphabet company. Now, the partners have announced that they've successfully designed and developed a communications payload for HAPSMobile's solar-powered stratospheric unmanned aircraft system, the HAWK30.
ICYMI: Internet aircraft, Uber retiree drivers and more
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-725255{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-725255, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-725255{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-725255").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: Facebook just built an aircraft that can stay aloft over areas without internet, beaming it down for free. Uber is announcing a partnership with AARP in an effort to get more part-time drivers from the retiree crowd. (We helpfully provided a CDC stat about fatal car accidents because we love you.) And NASA engineers are designing drones to explore areas of planets that rovers can't get to.
Daily Roundup: a popular GoPro song, Tesla autopilot mode and more!
In today's edition of the Daily Roundup, find out why a certain song is used in so many GoPro videos, learn about Tesla's new "autopilot mode" and get the scoop on Stanford scientists modifying leukemia to eat itself. Get the details on these stories and more past the break.
Google's internet balloons can stay aloft for 100 days
While some high profile Google projects (*cough Glass*) have been withering on the vine, Project Loon is a bright spot and even has a carrier partner. Mountain View says it can now autofill the internet-enabling, weather-tracking balloons in five minutes and launch up to 20 a day. They also last up to ten times longer than early versions, letting them stay in the stratosphere for over 100 days. Google chalked up the improvements to better quality control, like having workers wear fluffy socks (!) when walking on the skin to reduce wear. The search giant added that it can hit a target spot within a mile over a 6,000 mile journey to give better WiFi coverage to users. To see how much things have changed, check the recent balloon launch (above) against a 2013 launch (below).
Google grabs its first carrier partner for Project Loon tests in Australia
Google's internet-transmitting Project Loon balloons are set to float above Australia and beam data down to residents below. The company announced plans to use balloons to bring the internet to disconnected areas last year, and after semi-successful trials in New Zealand, Brazil and the States, it's teaming up with a local carrier (Australia's Telstra) for the first time to launch Loon's biggest test flight to date.
Google to test Project Loon in California's Central Valley, begins taking participant applications
It's safe to say Google took the world by surprise when it introduced its Project Loon. But, some were disappointed that it was done so far away from home -- at least at first. Now, the company has announced that it's ready to more openly test out the high-flying internet service in California, with research flights due to take place around The Golden State's Central Valley. Google says it's seeking people in the area "who are willing to have a Loon internet antenna installed on their house or small business building to help test the strength of the Loon internet connection." For those interested in helping out the cause (and why not!), you'll need to fill out the survey located at the source below -- the Project Loon team notes that those selected to participate will be contacted directly.
