About a 3rd of the world's population, or around 3 billion people, don’t have any or only poor access to the Internet. due to Infrastructure constraints, economic inequalities and geographical isolation.
Today's satellites and ground-based networks leave communication gaps where, for geographical reasons, the installation of conventional ground-based communications equipment can be too expensive.
Elevated platform stations Telecommunications equipment high within the air, in unmanned balloons, airships, gliders and airplanes, could increase social and economic equality by filling gaps in web connectivity on the bottom and by satellite, enabling more people to totally take part in the digital age.
One of us, Mohamed-Slim Alouini, is an electrical engineer who participated in an experiment that showed that it is feasible to offer high data rates and widespread 5G coverage from the stratosphere. The stratosphere is the second lowest layer of the atmosphere and lies between 6 and 48 kilometers above the Earth. Commercial aircraft normally fly within the lower a part of the stratosphere. The experiment measured signals between platform stations and users on the bottom in three scenarios: an individual staying in a single place, an individual driving a automotive, and an individual steering a ship.
My colleagues measured how strong the signal is relative to interference and background noise, a measure of the network's reliability. The results showed that the platform stations can support high-data-rate applications similar to streaming video in 4K resolution and may cover 15 to twenty times more area than traditional terrestrial transmission towers.
Early attempts by on facebook. and Google to commercially use platform stations were unsuccessful. But recent investmentstechnological improvements and the interest of traditional airlines and specialized aerospace startups May Change the equation.
The goal is global connectivity, a priority that can give the concept of platform stations recognition on the 2024 Report on the ten most vital recent technologiesThe international industry initiative HAPS Alliancewhich also includes academic partners, also strives for this goal.
Fast, cost-effective, flexible
Platform stations can be faster, cheaper and more flexible than satellite-based systems.
Since the communication devices are closer to Earth than satellites, the stations could deliver stronger signals with higher capability. This would enable real-time communication that’s fast enough to maintain up with Standard smartphoneshigh-resolution capabilities for imaging tasks and better sensitivity for sensing applications. They transmit data via free-space optics or light beams and large-scale antenna array systems that may send large amounts of information quickly.
Satellites can vulnerable to eavesdropping or jamming if their orbits take them over hostile countries. However, platform stations remain within the airspace of a single country, which reduces this risk.
High-altitude platforms are also easier to put in than satellites, which have high start And maintenance Costs. And the regulatory requirements and compliance procedures required to secure places within the stratosphere are prone to be simpler than the complex international laws that govern satellite orbits. Platform stations are also easier to upgrade, so improvements could possibly be implemented more quickly.
Platform stations are also potentially less harmful to the environment than Satellite mega-constellations This is because satellites burn up after they re-enter the Earth's atmosphere and may release harmful metals, whereas platform stations could be powered by clean energy sources similar to solar energy and green hydrogen.
The fundamental challenges for practical platform stations are to extend their flight time to several months, increase the usage of green electricity on board and improve reliability – especially for automatic take-off and landing within the lower turbulent layers of the atmosphere.
More than satellites
Platform stations could play a critical role in emergency and humanitarian situations by supporting relief efforts when ground-based networks are damaged or non-functional.
The stations is also connected to one another Internet of Things (IoT) devices and sensors in distant environments to raised monitor the environment and manage resources.
In agriculture, the stations could Imaging and sensor technologies to assist farmers monitor crop health, soil conditions and water resources.
Your ability for high-resolution imaging could also support navigation and mapping activities, that are critical for cartography, urban planning and disaster relief.
The stations could also tackle a dual function by Carrying instruments for atmospheric monitoring, climate research and distant sensing of Earth's surface features, vegetation and oceans.
From balloon to airplane
Platform stations could possibly be based on different aircraft types.
Balloons allow for stable, long-lasting operation at high altitudes and could be tethered or free-floating. Airships, also called dirigibles or blimps, use lighter-than-air gases and are larger and more maneuverable than balloons. They are particularly well suited to surveillance, communications and research.
Gliders and powered aircraft could be controlled more precisely than balloons, that are sensitive to fluctuations in wind speed. In addition, powered aircraft, which include drones and fixed-wing aircraft, can power communications equipment, sensors and cameras.
Next generation performance
Platform stations could use various energy sources, including increasingly light And efficient Solar cells, Batteries with high energy density, green hydrogen combustion engines, green hydrogen fuel cellsthat are currently within the testing phase, and eventually Laser beam powered by the bottom. or space-based solar stations.
The Development of sunshine aircraft designs coupled with advances in Highly efficient engines and propellers enable aircraft to fly longer and carry heavier payloads. latest light aircraft may lead to platform stations that may maneuver within the stratosphere for prolonged periods of time.
In the meantime, Improvements in stratospheric weather models and atmospheric models facilitate the prediction and simulation of the conditions under which the platform stations will operate.
Bridging the worldwide digital divide
By the tip of the last decade, it could be possible to make use of platform stations commercially, at the very least for disaster or emergency situations. For example, a consortium in Japan, a rustic with distant mountain and island communities, has earmarked 100 million US dollars for solar powered high altitude platform stations.
Train platforms could bridge the digital divide by improving access to essential services similar to education and healthcare, providing recent economic opportunities, and improving emergency care and environmental monitoring. As technological advances proceed to drive their development, train platforms will play a critical role in a more inclusive and resilient digital future.
image credit : theconversation.com