That image of the Google blimp almost looks like the logo was photoshopped on. Any way to tell if that's real or not?
Yep, I think it's photoshopped: http://www.flickr.com/photos/isafmedia/4995227882/
No journalistic integrity at Wired, I guess.
Google blimps will carry wireless signal across Africa
21–30 of 125 posts
Re: Google blimps will carry wireless signal across Africa
#22My girlfriend just asked a question that had not even occurred to me: what happens during a storm? I am sure Google's engineers have a way to handle that, but I am genuinely curious about what their solution is.
Similarly, will it float so low that it could be shot down with a gun or missile?
To avoid these two risks (storm and attack), I imagine it'd have to be at an altitude above weather currents and beyond shooting range... or be able to stabilize during a storm and be bulletproof.
Re: Google blimps will carry wireless signal across Africa
#23My girlfriend just asked a question that had not even occurred to me: what happens during a storm? I am sure Google's engineers have a way to handle that, but I am genuinely curious about what their solution is.
What happens when local militants/vandals shoot them down?
Local militants/vandals then lose access to the internet - and hopefully get reprimanded by the other folks of the area. Hopefully said militants/vandals would be more willing to use the services (maybe even to further their own nefarious goals) than destroy them.
Re: Google blimps will carry wireless signal across Africa
#24I wonder if they're taking precautions against the blimps being shot down.
Re: Google blimps will carry wireless signal across Africa
#25My girlfriend just asked a question that had not even occurred to me: what happens during a storm? I am sure Google's engineers have a way to handle that, but I am genuinely curious about what their solution is.
What happens when local militants/vandals shoot them down?
I don't know what altitude they'd fly at, but this quote from the Wikipedia article on Airships says:
"In November 2006, the U.S. Army bought an A380+ airship from American Blimp Corporation through a Systems level contract with Northrop Grumman and Booz Allen Hamilton. The airship started flight tests in late 2007, with a primary goal of carrying 2,500 lb (1,100 kg) of payload to an altitude of 15,000 ft (4,600 m) under remote control and autonomous waypoint navigation."
So it's perfectly possible for these things to typically fly a few kilometres above the ground. That is outside the range of small arms: the furthest confirmed sniper kill to date was at a range of 1,250 m.
So while it would certainly be possible for someone to shoot one of these airships down using aircraft or guided missiles, they would not be able to with small arms fire. Except during takeoff and landing, of course.
Re: Google blimps will carry wireless signal across Africa
#26I wonder if they've heard of these guys: http://ahumanright.org. They had an interesting, albeit somewhat quixotic-sounding, campaign to buy a satellite (TerreStar-1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TerreStar-1) for the same purpose. Unfortunately, the satellite was sold before they could raise enough money, but it looks like they're still around and contemplating ideas.
Re: Google blimps will carry wireless signal across Africa
#27I wonder if they're taking precautions against the blimps being shot down.
Contrary to (popular?) opinion most of Africa is not a warzone. With extremely few exceptions (Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo), most of Sub-Saharan Africa is in the middle of an extended period of peace.
It's inconceivable that if ever deployed, any of these blimps will be interfered with in the airspaces of East Africa (aside from Somalia) or over any country south of them.
Re: Google blimps will carry wireless signal across Africa
#28My girlfriend just asked a question that had not even occurred to me: what happens during a storm? I am sure Google's engineers have a way to handle that, but I am genuinely curious about what their solution is.
Similarly, will it float so low that it could be shot down with a gun or missile? To avoid these two risks (storm and attack), I imagine it'd have to be at an altitude above weather currents and beyond shooting range... or be able to stabilize during a storm and be bulletproof.
[deleted]
Re: Google blimps will carry wireless signal across Africa
#29Earlier quoted context omitted.
What happens when local militants/vandals shoot them down?
Local militants/vandals then lose access to the internet - and hopefully get reprimanded by the other folks of the area. Hopefully said militants/vandals would be more willing to use the services (maybe even to further their own nefarious goals) than destroy them.
They'd probably find more value in the general populace not having access to the rest of the world.