Google X, the lab behind Glass and self-driving cars, announced a new project, namely balloon-powered Internet access for areas where regular Internet isn’t a viable option.
Rumor about these balloons had reached the media before, but the lab is only now releasing
Information about them.
Google has tested these devices, which are meant to provide Internet access comparable to 3G networks, in New Zealand, earlier this week.
Since the idea really does sound a bit crazy, Google amusingly called the initiative “Project Loon.”
However, the search giant says that it has found a way to let these balloons sail freely on the winds and steering them by moving them up or down to catch the right winds, which would somewhat stop them from wandering too much or getting lost completely.
So far, Google says that it is using 30 balloons in this pilot project, and about 50 testers in New Zealand. The testers have their own special antennas that can connect to the balloons when they are within a 20km/12.4 miles radius.
