UK funds flying broadband stations with power beamed from below
£70M ARIA program backs 18 projects aiming to keep connectivity aloft for a week
The UK's Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) is funding projects aimed at delivering connectivity using high-flying aircraft, including technology to beam power from the ground to keep them in the air.
Britain's science and technology body, inspired by America's DARPA but on a more modest budget, says it is backing 18 projects to develop aircraft capable of operating reliably and cost-effectively in the stratosphere, as part of a program known as Enduring Atmospheric Platforms.
Success will be measured by whether any aircraft can continuously supply 300 W of power to a communications payload for an entire week, while holding station above the UK. The intent is to create an alternative to orbital satellites for providing connectivity to underserved parts of the UK and elsewhere in the world.
These are known as high-altitude pseudo-satellites (HAPS). The...
Copyright of this story solely belongs to www.theregister.com. To see the full text click HERE
