StratoNet| Internet on the Ocean

Project Details

The Challenge | Internet on the Ocean

The internet is not easily accessible in many areas of the world, like the Earth’s oceans. Fishermen, sailors, and others have limited data connection with the rest of the world. Although satellite internet is widely available, it is very expensive for a user to implement. Your challenge is to design a low-cost method of delivering internet to people located far away on the ocean.

StratoNet

Reliable Internet from the Stratosphere

StratoNet

StratoNET (or maybe SkyNet?)

PRESENTATION: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1z5fRPvqNff...

SUPPLEMENTAL VIDEO: http://www.riseflyorbit.org/videos/07ea.mkv

Comparing to other Solutions

Satellites: very expensive, time delayed
Ground: Curvature would necessitate millions of stations
HAPS/UAV (eg. Airbus Zephyr, record for sustained flight: 14 days)

Solution: Solar Airships as High Altitude Pseudo Satellites
- Inexpensive, Long Duration, No Maintenance
- 140 Airships to cover the North Atlantic, 460 for all Oceans
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Key Innovations:

- Combining Aerostatic and Aerodynamic Lift
- Electro-Aerodynamic Propulsion (more efficient than Propellers)
- Water (from Atmosphere) -> Electrolysis -> Hydrogen (Lifting Gas)

Market / Users:

- Shipping (Cargo, Fishing, Military, Recreational, Science)
- Offshore Power (Wind, Solar, Waves)
- Oil Platforms
- Lighthouses
- Island States (Azores, Bahamas, Indonesia)
- Aviation
- Sea Rescue
- Disaster Relief
- Science (Animal Tracking, Earth observation..)