Jen pár info o projektu LOON, který byl Googlem terminován v roce 2021 (zřejmě se nevyplnila předpověď návratnosti jako dle studie uvedené na konci):
How do Loon balloons work?
The balloons were maneuvered by adjusting their altitude in the stratosphere to float to a wind layer after identifying the wind layer with the desired speed and direction using wind data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
What happened to Google Loon balloons?
See our ethics statement. Alphabet's Loon project, which aimed to provide internet via a series of balloons, was shut down last year (2021) — but the tech associated with it has been spun off into a startup that ditches the floating platforms and aims to use lasers and the cloud to provide internet to remote places.
How much does a Loon balloon cost?
Using a systems engineering approach, an analysis was performed to determine the viability of
Google’s ‘Project Loon’; a system of high altitude balloons creating a moveable and adaptable
internet network. The scope of the project was determined based on its mission statement: “to provide
internet access to rural and poor areas” (Google, n.d.). Australia and India were selected to be case
study locations when discussing the feasibility of Project Loon. The material makeup of each balloon
was assessed and an energy audit found each balloon had 70225MJ of embodied energy and an
estimated initial cost of $17870. Over a five year period the total cost per balloon was determined to
be $40318. To run at no cost to Google each customer would have to pay between $833.19 and
$1.86 for the two considered scenarios assuming a 5% take-up rate by users. Due to the relationship
between internet access and wealth it is recommended that Google implement Project Loon at no
cost to users as the company would indirectly profit from more users due to advertisement revenue.
At 5% take-up rate Australia is not a viable location for this project as only 13.5% of the ongoing cost
would be covered. India however, would result in Project Loon generating $96.1 million in
advertisement revenue, covering its total cost by 6046.1%. Furthermore Project Loon would provide
valuable infrastructure to the company ensuring a larger customer base for future projects. (James Burr's study)