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slackingoff2017

This is insane. They're using ML to predict wind speeds at different altitudes and how to move the balloons with their various speed and power restrictions to optimize on-the-ground connectivity while maintaining close enough clusters and decent backhaul. Incredible.

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To be clear, it's not so much they are using ML to predict wind speeds at different altitudes; they use a forecast model like everyone else for that. The clever bit is being able to control your altitude such that you find favorable wind-altitude tuples to be in to keep you generally in one spot over days/weeks. It's sort of like what ocean/circumnavigating sailors do but in a higher dimensional space, both literally and in your search algorithm. Fascinating stuff.

The loons don't need to stay in one spot - for example, two loons could rotate around a common center point and provide good service. Allowing the loons to wander while optimizing ground connectivity is harder computationally but makes it possible to maintain good connections even if the wind isn't entirely cooperating.

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