Stratellite

Stratellite

1. 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 (freespace 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‟s 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. 4GENERATION: 4G-cellular systems should not only be high-speed but also high-capacity, with low bit cost, high capacity with reasonable frequency frequenc y bandwidth, the cell radius of 4G-cellular 4G -cellular systems shall be decreased from that of present cellular systems

Dept of ECE, STJIT RNR

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2. HISTORY

Sans wire Inc were the first to come up with the Stratellite. As the name suggests, it is a satellite, in the stratosphere. Positioned 13 miles, or 20 kilometers above the surface of the earth, it has the straight up-and-down communications advantages of any other satellite, but reduces transmission times by a factor of nearly 2000 for geostationary satellites, and 15 for low orbiting satellites. Using airship technology, a stratellite is above the cloud layers and so can be powered by solar cells and propelled by electric motors which are designed to keep the craft at a single, pre programmed 3-axis GPS co-ordinate, and check with higher satellites that it stays in that position Launching costs are next to nothing, and at nearly 250 feet long, they have enough lift for sophisticated computation equipment - more than most conventional satellites Placing a communications platform into the stratosphere, in the form of an airship, has never been done before. Such a platform can fundamentally change how the world delivers wireless telecommunications and the way we as individuals communicate.


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3. 4GENERATION

To achieve the goals of true broadband cellular service, the systems have to make the leap to a fourth-generation (4G) network. 4G is intended to provide high speed, high capacity, low cost per bit, IP based services. The goal is to have data rates up to 20 Mbps. Most probable the 4G network would be a network which is a combination of different technologies (current cellular networks, 3G cellular network, wireless LAN, etc.) 4G-cellular systems should not only be high-speed but also high-capacity, with low bit cost, high capacity with reasonable frequency bandwidth, the cell radius of 4G-cellular systems shall be decreased from that of present cellular systems

3.1 4G Mobile Communication Systems Some of the systems for future mobile communications are: 1. Broad-Band Wireless Systems 2. Intelligent Transport Systems 3. High Altitude Stratospheric Platform Station Systems

3.1.1 BROAD-BAND WIRELESS SYSTEMS Wireless networks can feature data rates roughly equivalent to some wired networks, such as that of asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) or a cable modem. Wireless networks can also be symmetrical, meaning the same rate in both directions (downstream and upstream), which is most commonly associated with fixed wireless networks. A fixed wireless network link is a stationary terrestrial wireless connection, which can support higher data rates for the same power as mobile or satellite systems.


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Few wireless Internet service providers (WISPs) provide download speeds of over 100 Mbit/s; most broadband wireless access (BWA) services are estimated to have a range of 50 km (31 mi) from a tower. Technologies used include LMDS and MMDS, as well as heavy use of the ISM bands and one particular access technology was standardized by IEEE 802.16, with products known as WiMAX. WiMAX is highly popular in Europe but has not met full acceptance in the United States because cost of deployment does not meet return on investment figures. In 2005 the Federal Communications Commission adopted a Report and Order that revised the FCC‟s rules to open the 3650 MHz band for terrestrial wireless broadband operations

3.1.2 Intelligent Transport Systems ITS as systems in which information and communication technologies are applied in the field of road transport, including infrastructure, vehicles and users, and in traffic management and mobility management, as well as for interfaces with other modes of transport. Recent governmental activity in the area of ITS – specifically in the United States – is further motivated by an increasing focus on homeland security. Many of the proposed ITS systems also involve surveillance of the roadways, which is a priority of homeland security. Funding of many systems comes either directly through homeland security organisations or with their approval. Further, ITS can play a role in the rapid mass evacuation of people in urban centres after large casualty events such as a result of a natural disaster or threat. Much of the infrastructure and planning involved with ITS parallels the need for homeland security systems.


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3.1.3 High Altitude Stratospheric Platform Station Systems (HAPS) HAPS has the potential to become the third communications infrastructure after terrestrial and satellite communications. The platforms keep their positions at about 20 km high in the stratosphere. By optical intercommunication links, they make a mesh-like network in the sky. A broadband access link is the link between the platform station and the user station. The typical bit rate of the access link is 25 Mb/s for most fixed and portable terminals, while a several hundred megabits per second link is available for limited fixed terminals with antennas larger than the typical ones. Because of using millimeter-wave bands, a small antenna with high gain is feasible. For example, a bit rate of 144 kb/s can be provided for vehicles by only a 5 cm dish antenna with 20 dB gain.


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4.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, stratellites are positioned in the stratosphere approximately 13 miles above the Earth. 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 Stratellite is designed to carry certain payloads into the Stratosphere determined by the requirements of the customer. A single unit could send broadband, mobile phone and digital television and radio signals to a large area. The „unmanned‟ Stratellite would be powered by solar cells and propelled by electric motors.


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The concept allows for ascent and descent and stationary operation. Short and long time missions are possible with the Stratellite with possible launch capabilities setup within 24 hours at any location This altitude places the airships above both commercial air traffic and weather effects but significantly lower than standard low earth orbits. From this height stratellites can service a 300,000-square-mile-area.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) projects that eleven such airships could provide radar coverage of the entire maritime and southern borders of the United States. Like FTTH, a Stratellite is anticipated to be able to deliver a variety of services including broadband Internet, HDTV, telephone as well as 3G/4G mobile phone services.


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4.1 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, slowturning 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 fibre 10 times as strong as steel of the same weight and has the unique feature of bei ng eas y to cu t bu t vi rt ual ly im po ss ibl e to te ar .


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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.


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4.1.1 STRATELLITE CONSISTS OF : 

Propeller

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Solar cells

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Regenerative fuel cells

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Helium gas bag

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Catenary curtain

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X-shaped tail assembly

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Hybrid electric motors

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Transponder

4.2 WORKING 

Inside is filled with Helium gas, as it is inert gas not flammable.

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The Helium gas expands pushing out air and lifting the airship.

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Uses solar cells sprayed on their surface to generate electricity.

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The generated electricity drives propellers that work with GPS technology to keep the stratellite stationary.

4.3 SPECIFICATIONS GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: a. Length: 245 ft in (75 m) b. Width: 145 ft in (44 m) c. Height: 87 ft in (26.5 m) 3

3

d. Volume: 1.3 million ft (420,000 m )


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5. ADVANTAGES

a. Decreases Signal latency b. Less expensive to launch c. Service an area of 300,000 square-miles d. Two-way high speed data communication e. High speed broad-band access even in remote area. f.

For a country two stratellites are enough instead of thousands of towers

g. Stratellites will carry over 20,000 pounds of radars and other remote imaging equipment, navigational aids, and telecommunications relays. h. Stratellites are planned to remain on station for a year at a time and will cost a one fifth as much as a comparable satellite i.

One of the many advantages our High Altitude Airships have over satellite technology is that the payload can easily be recovered, upgraded, and re-launched in a matter of hours.

j.

Stratellites are planned to remain on station for a year at a time and will cost a fifth as much as a comparable satellit


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6. DISADVANTAGES

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 . Critics question whether technology really exists that can keep Stratellites on station for such long periods of time.

a.Recent developments in sub-orbital flight could eventually lead to traffic problems in the stratosphere. b.Would require efficient ground control and maintenance. c.So far, this technology remains non-commercialized, and is in a prototype stage for further developments. d.Unlike with a satellite, a stratellite is at the mercy of the weather.


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7. 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.

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By linking several Stratellites together they can provide a wireless broadband network that will cover thousands of miles.

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In environmental disasters telecommunication breaks down within seconds, Reinstallation of the infrastructure takes weeks or months.

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The Stratellite can be used as a floating mobile telecommunication station for all telecommunication purposes and the transmission of temporary data communication, telecommunication and TV-programs as well as long-term missions over metropolitan cities.

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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.

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The Stratellite will allow subscribers to easily communicate in "both directions" using readily available wireless devices.

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In addition to voice and data, proposed telecommunications uses include cellular, 3G/4G mobile, MMDS, paging, fixed wireless telephony, HDTV, real-time surveillance and OTHERS.

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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.


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8 . STRATELLITES AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS Stratellites offer a window of telecommunications opportunity. Effectively, a Stratellite positioned over a major metropolitan area could act as a cell tower thirteen miles high. A Stratellite, equipped with the appropriate transponders, could manage the wireless needs of that entire metropolitan area. Transponder access could be leased to broadband users such as Internet Service Providers (ISP‟s), cell phone companies, television networks, radio stations, various levels of government, and to corporations with large broadband requirements. These consumers could then resell access to end users, for residential Internet access, for example.

None of this type of business or wireless use is innovative, so existing regulatory schemes and business models cover Stratellite communications. In fact, Stratellites employed in this manner would make use of existing spectrum allocations, at least initially, and not require expensive bandwidth acquisition. Additionally, the marketing of such links would be virtually identical to current marketing. By increasing the utility and availability of the type of link that has, until now, been restricted to satellites, firms can bring broadband links to new areas, provide for increased usage, and service larger markets without any fundamental change in operations.


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9. STRATELLITE ADVANTAGE OVER SATELLITE Satellites are objects in outer space that fly around planets in circular paths called orbits. Artificial satellites are made by people. Satellites are becoming involved with stratellites because they avoid the two main drawbacks of satellites. a) Signal latency, which can cause problems in establishing broadband links.Most telecommunications satellites are in geostationary orbit to remain above a certain point on the Earth‟s surface. That orbit, however, is 22,240 miles above the Earth, (i.e; in the area called CLARKE‟S BELT), which means that a signal going up to the satellite(uplink) and back to the Earth(downlink) travels nearly 4 5,000 miles, which equates to about a quarter of a second delay. Even users of satellite voice links notice the delay.


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b) 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 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.

Stratellite

Satellite

Low cost

High cost

Low altitude

High altitude

Multi launch

Single launch

Easily upgradable

Not upgradable

Unlimited space avability

Limited space availability

Can be used for Ip and cell transmission

Can not be used for IP and cell transmission

Higher bandwidth/throughput

Limited uplink

Faster to deploy

Slow to deploy

Multiple platforms

One platform

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Broadband

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WEATHER MONITORING

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3G/4G Services


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10. CONCLUSION Str atelites pr pr ovide the r equir ed f acilities of wir eless communication mor e ef f or dinar y ttower s. T The S Str atellite w will aallow ssu bs fi ciently tthan tthe o bscr i be ber s tto eeasily ccommunicate in „ bo both dir ections‟ using r eadily availa bl ble wir eless technology.” They minimise the cost of communication. Str atellites ppr esent a mo bile, low-cost, high-ca pacity alter native to satellite r elays and cell ttower s. O Once tthe d def ects o of Str atellites h have been o over come aand become m mor e r r elia ble, tthey pl a v vital r r ole iin tthe f f utur e g gener ation w wir eless c communication. play a Once tthe d def ects o of Str atellites h have been o over come a and become m mor e r elia bl a v vital r r ole iin tthe f f utur e g gener ation w wir eless c communication.This iis a a ble, tthey pl play a pr omising ttechnology tthat c could c com bine tthe best o of Satellite a and w wir ed IInter net -- f f ast w with llow latency a and h hugely w wides pr ead, a at lleast iin ttheor y.Pr o ba bly tthe m most ""f ar out tther e" c conce pt iin this r r oundu p, S Str atellite iis a actually m much c closer to r r eality tthan w what y you m may tthinkk


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11.References

1. www.google.co.in 2. www.yahoosearch.com 3. howstuffworks.com 4. 21st Century Airships, Inc., High Altitude Platforms, at http://www.21stcenturyairships.com/ 5. Geostationary Orbits, in Wikpedia, at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geostationary_orbit (last accessed Sept. 28, 2004). 6. TWUF, Broadband Takes to the Skiesrt Techdirt, Get Your Wireless Broadband By Stratellite

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