16-07-2014, 12:48 PM
A Paper Presentation On STRATELLITE
[attachment=65884]
ABSTRACT
Wireless communication is simply data communication without the use of landlines. This may involve cellular telephone, two-way radio, fixed wireless (broadband wireless), laser (frees pace optics) or satellite communications. Mobile wireless technologies are going to act as glue towards bringing together the wired and wireless to share and distribute information seamlessly across each other’s areas of reference. The paper firstly introduces the wireless communications and then switches to fourth generation in wireless communications.
The paper then discusses about High Altitude Airships, the “STRATELLITES” which are actually unmanned Kevlar balloons filled with helium which are used instead of towers for wireless communication, each of which replace hundreds of towers and reduce the cost of wireless communications. They also overcome the disadvantage of simple towers which could not provide proper coverage in the hilly areas.
INTRODUCTION
Wireless communication is simply data communication without the use of landlines. This may involve cellular telephone, two-way radio, fixed wireless (broadband wireless), laser (free space optics) or satellite communication systems. Mobile wireless technologies are going to act as glue towards bringing together the wired and wireless to share and distribute information seamlessly across each other areas of reference.
Since from the beginning of wireless communications, there have been a number of developments in each generation. Considering the future generation of wireless communication i.e; 4G.
STRATELLITE
A “stratellite” is a high-altitude airship (HAA) “25 times larger than the Goodyear blimp” employed much like a satellite for remote sensing, navigation, and communications. Instead of being stationed on orbit, stratellite are positioned in the stratosphere approximately 13 miles above the Earth.
CONSTRUCTION OF STRATELLITE
The initial Stratellite was 188 feet long, 60 feet wide and 42 feet high. It is provided with a new steering method which uses a hybrid electric system that drives large, slow-turning propellers. This gives the airship helicopter-like agility by being able to move both up and down, and side to side. The outside layer, or "envelope," is made out of a high-tech material called Spectra - a fabric used in bullet-proof vests and parts of space shuttles. Spectra contains fiber 10 times as strong as steel of the same weight and has the unique feature of being easy to cut but virtually impossible to tear.
Fig3: ‘MYLAR’ the inner layer of the stratellite
The inside layer, made from a thin but strong polyester film called Mylar, is fitted inside the envelope and filled with a mixture of helium and air as helium is an inert gas and is therefore not flammable. With this design, the helium expands as the airship rises, forcing air out and lifting the airship. The cycle continues, allowing the airship to gain more and more altitude until the helium has expanded to fill the envelope completely. Because the pressure is so low inside the envelope, a puncture would only result in a very slow leak, taking a long time to totally deflate.
STRATELLITE TECHNOLOGY AND ADVANTAGES
Stratellites are actually unmanned Kevlar balloons filled with helium. They use thin-film photovoltaic cells sprayed on their surfaces to generate electricity, which drives propellers that work with GPS technology to keep the stratellite positioned over one spot on the Earth’s surface.
Prototype airships are projected to carry payloads as large as 4,000 pounds, and later models are expected to carry over 20,000 pounds of radars and other remote imaging equipment, navigational aids, and telecommunications relays. Stratellites are planned to remain on station for a year at a time and will cost a fifth as much as a comparable satellite.
Fig4: STRATELLITE COMMUNICATION
The second drawback is that satellites are in space, requiring expensive space launches, an additional level of regulation by national space authorities, and an orbital allotment by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
Stratellites remain in national airspace and are therefore not subject to these licensing and technology requirements. However, they do make use of space technology and, as stated above, are in development by at least one space industry firm.
SERVICES
At an altitude of 13 miles, each Stratellite will have clear line-of-site communications capability to an entire major metropolitan area as well as being able to provide coverage across major rural areas. “The idea, if successful, would be revolutionary for underserved areas where broadband is not as popular because the areas are too expensive to reach by telephone or cable network.” “Existing satellites provide easy ‘download’ capabilities, but because of their high altitude are not practical or commercially viable for a ‘two-way’ high speed data communication. The Stratellite will allow subscribers to easily communicate in ‘both directions’ using readily available wireless technology.” This means that subscribers can send and receive information
APPLICATIONS
Once a Stratellite network is in place, it will provide a national broadband wireless network that will provide voice, video, and broadband internet access to all parts of the country. By linking several Stratellites together they can provide a wireless broadband network that will cover thousands of miles. With a Stratellite network, subscribers will be able to sit in their homes and be connected on their laptops to the internet at high speed. If subscribers need to go to the office, across town, or even to another city, they can close their laptop and take off, reopening the laptop at their new destination and still be connected to the internet. This would allow subscribers the ease of not having to find local access numbers, tie up phone lines, deal with modem hassles, and more importantly, slow speeds. In addition to internet use, “proposed telecommunications uses include cellular, 3G/4G mobile, MMDS, fixed wireless telephony, HDTV, real-time surveillance and others.
STRATELLITE CHALLENGES AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES\
Though the opportunities for increasing broadband links and for profit are enormous, stratellites are still in their infancy. They present several problems that have yet to be fully addressed. The public may be concerned about such large, unmanned payloads stationed above metropolitan areas and recent developments in sub-orbital flight could eventually lead to traffic problems in the stratosphere. More importantly, critics question whether technology really exists that can keep stratellites on station for such long periods of time. Once these concerns are overcome and working stratellites are available, the potential exists for vastly expanding broadband links.
Some telecommunications providers, such as sanswire Technologies, have recognized this marketing opportunity and already have formed joint ventures with the space industry and balloon-makers. However, in addition to marketing, stratellites will require ground control and maintenance, and used stratellites will require refurbishment before redeployment, tasks which the manufacturers and marketers may well lack the capacity or desire to perform
CONCLUSION
Stratelites provide the required facilities of wireless communication more efficiently than the ordinary towers. The Stratellite will allow subscribers to easily communicate in ‘both directions’ using readily available wireless technology.”
“They minimize the cost of communication.”
Stratellites present a mobile, low-cost, high-capacity alternative to satellite relays and cell towers. Once the defects of Stratellites have been overcome and become more reliable, they play a vital role in the future generation wireless communication
[attachment=65884]
ABSTRACT
Wireless communication is simply data communication without the use of landlines. This may involve cellular telephone, two-way radio, fixed wireless (broadband wireless), laser (frees pace optics) or satellite communications. Mobile wireless technologies are going to act as glue towards bringing together the wired and wireless to share and distribute information seamlessly across each other’s areas of reference. The paper firstly introduces the wireless communications and then switches to fourth generation in wireless communications.
The paper then discusses about High Altitude Airships, the “STRATELLITES” which are actually unmanned Kevlar balloons filled with helium which are used instead of towers for wireless communication, each of which replace hundreds of towers and reduce the cost of wireless communications. They also overcome the disadvantage of simple towers which could not provide proper coverage in the hilly areas.
INTRODUCTION
Wireless communication is simply data communication without the use of landlines. This may involve cellular telephone, two-way radio, fixed wireless (broadband wireless), laser (free space optics) or satellite communication systems. Mobile wireless technologies are going to act as glue towards bringing together the wired and wireless to share and distribute information seamlessly across each other areas of reference.
Since from the beginning of wireless communications, there have been a number of developments in each generation. Considering the future generation of wireless communication i.e; 4G.
STRATELLITE
A “stratellite” is a high-altitude airship (HAA) “25 times larger than the Goodyear blimp” employed much like a satellite for remote sensing, navigation, and communications. Instead of being stationed on orbit, stratellite are positioned in the stratosphere approximately 13 miles above the Earth.
CONSTRUCTION OF STRATELLITE
The initial Stratellite was 188 feet long, 60 feet wide and 42 feet high. It is provided with a new steering method which uses a hybrid electric system that drives large, slow-turning propellers. This gives the airship helicopter-like agility by being able to move both up and down, and side to side. The outside layer, or "envelope," is made out of a high-tech material called Spectra - a fabric used in bullet-proof vests and parts of space shuttles. Spectra contains fiber 10 times as strong as steel of the same weight and has the unique feature of being easy to cut but virtually impossible to tear.
Fig3: ‘MYLAR’ the inner layer of the stratellite
The inside layer, made from a thin but strong polyester film called Mylar, is fitted inside the envelope and filled with a mixture of helium and air as helium is an inert gas and is therefore not flammable. With this design, the helium expands as the airship rises, forcing air out and lifting the airship. The cycle continues, allowing the airship to gain more and more altitude until the helium has expanded to fill the envelope completely. Because the pressure is so low inside the envelope, a puncture would only result in a very slow leak, taking a long time to totally deflate.
STRATELLITE TECHNOLOGY AND ADVANTAGES
Stratellites are actually unmanned Kevlar balloons filled with helium. They use thin-film photovoltaic cells sprayed on their surfaces to generate electricity, which drives propellers that work with GPS technology to keep the stratellite positioned over one spot on the Earth’s surface.
Prototype airships are projected to carry payloads as large as 4,000 pounds, and later models are expected to carry over 20,000 pounds of radars and other remote imaging equipment, navigational aids, and telecommunications relays. Stratellites are planned to remain on station for a year at a time and will cost a fifth as much as a comparable satellite.
Fig4: STRATELLITE COMMUNICATION
The second drawback is that satellites are in space, requiring expensive space launches, an additional level of regulation by national space authorities, and an orbital allotment by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
Stratellites remain in national airspace and are therefore not subject to these licensing and technology requirements. However, they do make use of space technology and, as stated above, are in development by at least one space industry firm.
SERVICES
At an altitude of 13 miles, each Stratellite will have clear line-of-site communications capability to an entire major metropolitan area as well as being able to provide coverage across major rural areas. “The idea, if successful, would be revolutionary for underserved areas where broadband is not as popular because the areas are too expensive to reach by telephone or cable network.” “Existing satellites provide easy ‘download’ capabilities, but because of their high altitude are not practical or commercially viable for a ‘two-way’ high speed data communication. The Stratellite will allow subscribers to easily communicate in ‘both directions’ using readily available wireless technology.” This means that subscribers can send and receive information
APPLICATIONS
Once a Stratellite network is in place, it will provide a national broadband wireless network that will provide voice, video, and broadband internet access to all parts of the country. By linking several Stratellites together they can provide a wireless broadband network that will cover thousands of miles. With a Stratellite network, subscribers will be able to sit in their homes and be connected on their laptops to the internet at high speed. If subscribers need to go to the office, across town, or even to another city, they can close their laptop and take off, reopening the laptop at their new destination and still be connected to the internet. This would allow subscribers the ease of not having to find local access numbers, tie up phone lines, deal with modem hassles, and more importantly, slow speeds. In addition to internet use, “proposed telecommunications uses include cellular, 3G/4G mobile, MMDS, fixed wireless telephony, HDTV, real-time surveillance and others.
STRATELLITE CHALLENGES AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES\
Though the opportunities for increasing broadband links and for profit are enormous, stratellites are still in their infancy. They present several problems that have yet to be fully addressed. The public may be concerned about such large, unmanned payloads stationed above metropolitan areas and recent developments in sub-orbital flight could eventually lead to traffic problems in the stratosphere. More importantly, critics question whether technology really exists that can keep stratellites on station for such long periods of time. Once these concerns are overcome and working stratellites are available, the potential exists for vastly expanding broadband links.
Some telecommunications providers, such as sanswire Technologies, have recognized this marketing opportunity and already have formed joint ventures with the space industry and balloon-makers. However, in addition to marketing, stratellites will require ground control and maintenance, and used stratellites will require refurbishment before redeployment, tasks which the manufacturers and marketers may well lack the capacity or desire to perform
CONCLUSION
Stratelites provide the required facilities of wireless communication more efficiently than the ordinary towers. The Stratellite will allow subscribers to easily communicate in ‘both directions’ using readily available wireless technology.”
“They minimize the cost of communication.”
Stratellites present a mobile, low-cost, high-capacity alternative to satellite relays and cell towers. Once the defects of Stratellites have been overcome and become more reliable, they play a vital role in the future generation wireless communication