ABSTRACT: The word on just about every Internet user's lips these days is "broadband." We have so much more data to send and download today, including audio files, video files and photos, that it's clogging our wimpy modems. Many Internet users are switching to cable modems and digital subscriber lines (DSLs) to increase their bandwidth. There's also a new type of service being developed that will take broadband into the air. In this paper, we'll learn about the future of the Airborne Internet. We'll take a look at the networks in development, the aircraft and how consumers may use this technology. Land-based lines are limited physically in how much data they can deliver because of the diameter of the cable or phone line. In an airborne Internet, there is no such physical limitation, enabling a broader capacity. The airborne Internet will function much like satellite-based Internet access, but without the time delay. The airborne Internet will actually be used to compliment the satellite and ground-based networks, not replace them. These airborne networks will overcome the last-mile barriers facing conventional Internet access options. This paper addresses some of the trends and issues involved in developing an Airborne Internet capable of achieving this goal. Understanding relationships between these trends and issues and the objectives and functional requirements of the program will allow various participants in this complex program to keep activities in proper perspective. The all-round development and improvement are the key areas of research work performed in this paper. INTRODUCTION: Airborne Internet is a private, secure and reliable peer-to-peer aircraft communications network that uses the same technology as the commercial Internet. It is an implementation which connects aircraft to a ground-based Internet access node, including the information which is passed across this communication link. It provides airborne access to wealth of Internet information and resources. It is convenient and has several uses like flight planning, en route reservations, travel arrangements. It is useful in providing the information about weather, surrounding airspace environment and for aircraft-to-aircraft communications. The security applications include flight tracking/deviation monitoring, in-flight
video monitoring, cockpit voice/video recording. This Airborne Internet (A.I.) is an approach to provide a general purpose, multi-application data channel to aviation. In doing so, A.I. has the potential to provide significant cost savings for aircraft operators as it allows the consolidation of many functions into a common data channel. A primary application for A.I. is to track aircraft for the air traffic control system. Many other applications can utilize the same A.I. data channel. The applications available are only limited by the bandwidth available. A.I. began as a supporting technology for NASA’s Small Aircraft Transportation System (SATS). But there is no reason that A.I. should be limited to SATS-class aircraft. All of aviation, and even transportation, has the potential to benefit from A.I. The principle behind the A.I. is to establish a robust, reliable, and available digital data channel to aircraft. How does satellite Internet operate? How do you access the Internet other than dial-up if you live too far from a phone company office for DSL and there is no cable TV on your street? Satellite Internet access may be worth considering. It's ideal for rural Internet users who want broadband access. Satellite Internet does not use telephone lines or cable systems, but instead uses a satellite dish for two-way (upload and download) data communications. Upload speed is about one-tenth of the 500 kbps download speed. Cable and DSL have higher download speeds, but satellite systems are about 10 times faster than a normal modem. Firms that offer or plan to offer satellite Internet include StarBand, Pegasus Express, Teledesic and Tachyon. Tachyon service is available today in the , Western Europe and . Pegasus Express is the two-way version of DirecPC. Two-way satellite Internet consists of: Approximately a two-foot by dish Two modems (uplink and downlink) Coaxial cables between dish and modem The key installation planning requirement is a clear view to the south, since the orbiting satellites are over the equator area. And, like satellite TV, trees and heavy rains can affect reception of the Internet signals.
satellite and airborne Internet access are typically the same, but it will take less time for the airborne Internet to relay data because it is not as high up. Satellites orbit at several hundreds of miles above Earth. The airborne-Internet aircraft will circle overhead at an altitude of 52,000 to 69,000 feet (15,849 to 21,031 meters). At this altitude, the aircraft will be undisturbed by inclement weather and flying well above commercial air traffic. Networks using high-altitude aircraft will also have a cost advantage over satellites because the aircraft can be deployed easily -- they don't have to be launched into space. However, the airborne Internet will actually be used to compliment the satellite and ground-based networks, not replace them. These airborne networks will overcome the last-mile barriers facing conventional Internet access options. The "last mile" refers to the fact that access to high-speed cables still depends on physical proximity, and that for this reason, not everyone who wants access can have it. It would take a lot of time to provide universal access using cable or phone lines, just because of the time it takes to install the wires. An airborne network will immediately overcome the last mile as soon as the aircraft takes off. The airborne Internet won't be completely wireless. There will be components to any type of airborne Internet network. The consumers will have to install an antenna on their home or business in order to receive signals from the network hub overhead. The networks will also work with established Internet Service Providers (ISPs), who will provide their high-capacity terminals for use by the network. These ISPs have a fiber point of presence -- their fiber optics is already set up. What the airborne Internet will do is provide an infrastructure that can reach areas that don't have broadband cables and wires. Airborne-Internet systems will require that an antenna be attached to the side of your house or work place. In the next three sections, we will take a look at the three aircraft that could be bringing you broadband Internet access from the sky.
communication. The antenna array creates hundreds of virtual cells, like mobile-phone cells, on the ground to serve thousands of users. An 18-foot dish underneath the plane is responsible for reflecting high-speed data signals from a ground station to your computer. Each city in the HALO Network will be allotted three piloted Proteus planes. Each plane will fly for eight hours before the next plane takes off and after takeoff it will climb to a safe altitude, above any bad weather or commercial traffic, and begin an 8-mile loop around the city. Floating On Air Sky Station International is counting on its blimps, in the race to deliver Internet access from high altitudes and calls them as lighter-than-air platforms, and plans to station these airships, one over each city. Each station would fly at an altitude of 13 miles (21 km) and provide wireless service to an area of approximately 7,500 square miles (19,000 square km). Sky Station Blimp Diameter 203 ft (62 m) Length 515 ft (157 m) Width approx. 300 ft (91 m) Power Solar and fuel cells Each blimp will be equipped with a telecommunications payload to provide wireless broadband connections. The blimps will be able to carrying payloads of up to about 2,200 a life span of about five to 10 years. Sky Station says that its user terminals will enable broadband connections of between 2 and 10 megabits per second (Mbps). NASA's Sub-space Plans: NASA is also playing a role in a potential airborne Internet system being developed by AeroVironment. Photo courtesy NASA The Helios aircraft will be equipped with telecommunications equipment and stay airborne for six months straight.