Latest news with #Sceye
Sustainability Times
04-07-2025
- Business
- Sustainability Times
'We Built Internet at 60,000 Feet': This Flying Tech Marvel Is Reconnecting Disaster Zones Faster Than Ever Before
IN A NUTSHELL 🚀 Sceye leads the way in innovative High-Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS) for global connectivity. leads the way in innovative (HAPS) for global connectivity. 🌐 Positioned in the stratosphere , HAPS offers reliable internet access even in remote or disaster-hit areas. , HAPS offers reliable internet access even in remote or disaster-hit areas. 🔋 Powered by solar arrays and lithium-sulfur batteries, these platforms can operate continuously for extended periods. and lithium-sulfur batteries, these platforms can operate continuously for extended periods. 📡 The partnership with SoftBank underscores HAPS's role in future telecommunications, complementing terrestrial and satellite networks. In the rapidly evolving world of telecommunications, innovation is the key to bridging gaps and addressing the challenges of connectivity. One of the most promising advancements in this field is the development of High-Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS). These platforms, operating from the stratosphere, have the potential to revolutionize how we maintain communication during emergencies and in remote areas. Companies like Sceye are pioneering this technology, offering a glimpse into a future where connectivity is ubiquitous, even in the most challenging environments. As we delve into the specifics of this groundbreaking technology, it becomes clear that the implications are vast and transformative. Revolutionizing Connectivity with High-Altitude Platforms The aerospace company, Sceye, is at the forefront of transforming communication through their High-Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS). These platforms are designed to operate from the stratosphere, approximately 11.4 to 12.3 miles above the Earth's surface. The strategic placement in the stratosphere allows for a combination of proximity and broad coverage, overcoming the limitations faced by both terrestrial and satellite networks. By utilizing helium for buoyancy, these platforms can remain airborne for extended periods, ranging from several months to a full year. This extended operational time is powered by solar arrays, which charge high-density lithium-sulfur batteries, ensuring continuous operation both day and night. The onboard electronics, including advanced computers and sensors, provide diligent monitoring and power management, making these platforms incredibly resilient and reliable. 'America's First Nuclear Reactor in 50 Years': This Ultra-Compact Power Source Will Deliver Electricity Where No Grid Can Reach One of the standout features of Sceye's HAPS is its ability to hold its position in the face of challenging wind conditions. This stability is crucial for applications such as proactive wildfire monitoring and other environmental management tasks. The platform's durability is further enhanced by its design, which is 1,500 times more gas-tight and resistant to UV and ozone exposure than previous models. The Role of HAPS in the 6G Era As the world transitions towards the era of 6G internet, the demand for robust and scalable telecommunications infrastructure has never been greater. SoftBank, a global telecommunications giant, has recognized the transformative potential of HAPS and has invested in Sceye's vision. This partnership underscores the belief that HAPS will be a core component of future telecommunications architecture, complementing existing terrestrial and satellite networks. 'I Built a Laser from Hell': YouTuber Unleashes World's Strongest Handheld Beam That Instantly Melts Metal and Ignites Anything SoftBank sees HAPS as a solution that not only expands network coverage to hard-to-reach areas but also plays a critical role in restoring communications during large-scale disasters. The advantages of HAPS are clear: faster speeds, greater capacity, lower latency, and flexibility that surpass traditional satellite communications. With these capabilities, HAPS is poised to support emerging technologies such as drones and UAVs, which are integral to the 6G vision. At SoftBank's 39th Annual General Meeting, Junichi Miyakawa, President & CEO, emphasized the importance of HAPS in the expanding telecommunications landscape, stating that they are taking the lead in making this core infrastructure a reality. 'They Gave the Drone an Elephant Trunk': Flexible Robot Arm Grabs, Bends, and Slips Into Tightest Spaces With Shocking Precision SoftBank and Sceye: A Strategic Partnership The collaboration between SoftBank and Sceye signifies a strategic move to harness the potential of HAPS in enhancing global connectivity. This partnership is not just about financial investment; it is a convergence of expertise and vision to address some of the world's most pressing communication challenges. SoftBank's commitment to advancing HAPS technology is evident in their plans to pilot a pre-commercial HAPS flight in Japan by 2026. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to develop a comprehensive telecommunications infrastructure capable of supporting both current and emerging needs. SoftBank is also working on its own HAPS platform, a heavier-than-air, fixed-wing aircraft, which aims to offer future commercial services. This dual approach of combining Sceye's stratospheric platforms with their own innovations positions SoftBank as a leader in shaping the future of global connectivity. Implications for Disaster Management and Remote Connectivity The potential applications of HAPS extend beyond just enhancing internet connectivity. In times of crisis, such as natural disasters, maintaining communication lines can be a matter of life and death. HAPS offers a lifeline in such scenarios, providing a resilient and reliable means of restoring communications when traditional networks are compromised. Additionally, HAPS can significantly improve internet access in remote and challenging environments, such as mountainous regions and isolated islands. By bypassing the limitations of terrestrial networks, these platforms can deliver consistent and high-quality internet services to areas previously considered unreachable. This capability has profound implications for both disaster management and efforts to bridge the digital divide. As we look to the future, the question remains: how will the integration of HAPS into our global communication networks reshape our approach to connectivity and crisis management? Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.5/5 (21)
Yomiuri Shimbun
27-06-2025
- Business
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan's SoftBank to Trial ‘Flying Base Stations' From 2026; System to Initially be Used to Support Disaster Response, Areas with Weak Signal
SoftBank Corp. announced Thursday that it would begin trials of High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) stratospheric telecommunications services in Japan in 2026. HAPS, which is referred to as 'base stations in the sky,' is a telecommunication platform comprised of communication devices such as antennas for mobile phone base stations, which are loaded on aircraft that fly in the stratosphere at an altitude of 20 kilometers. SoftBank will invest about ¥2.2 billion in the U.S.-based company Sceye Inc., which develops lighter-than-air airship-type HAPS aircraft buoyed by helium and will begin using Sceye's platform. The technology will be utilized for restoring communications during large-scale disasters. HAPS are powered by solar panels and batteries, can remain airborne for extended periods and are able to cover a wider area than ground-based base stations. SoftBank will procure one Sceye aircraft of 65 meters long and begin test operations in Japan. The pre-commercial service will be limited to select users to accumulate operational data. Commercial services for general users are expected to begin after 2027, being used for disaster response and in areas where ground-based base station signals cannot be picked up, such as on remote islands.
Los Angeles Times
26-06-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
SoftBank backs giant floating climate stations startup
A startup building massive, bullet-shaped helium balloons that float in the stratosphere has raised $15 million from Japan's SoftBank Corp. — part of an effort to monitor climate data and bring connectivity to hard-to-reach areas. The company, called Sceye Inc., has built more than 20 of its zeppelin-like airships, stationed at a sprawling 41,600-square-foot warehouse in New Mexico. The vehicles — technically called high-altitude platform stations — are 214 feet long, almost the size of a Boeing 747's wingspan, and are equipped with specialized cameras and radars. Designed to hover above the earth for months at a time, Sceye's monitoring stations can capture real-time data on wildfires, flooding and greenhouse gases. They can also provide wireless service to people on the ground during large-scale disasters. The company's Chief Executive Officer Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen said that he expected SoftBank — the telecom unit of the tech conglomerate SoftBank Group Corp. — to be an important strategic partner to the startup. 'As a telephone company, it knows the limitations of towers and fiber optic cables and satellite constellations,' Frandsen said. 'This is a critical area for them to come into.' Founded in 2014, the company has notched a valuation of $580 million with the latest investment. Other backers of the company include Saudi investor Mawarid Holding Company. Sceye (pronounced 'sky') began testing its high-tech balloons nine years ago with a much smaller prototype. Last year, the company led its first 'full diurnal flight,' meaning one of its stations stayed afloat in an area for more than 24 hours — a feat Frandsen said helped prove the efficacy of its strategy to stay operational using solar power in the day and batteries at night. With its new funding and SoftBank partnership, next year Sceye plans to fly one of its stratospheric platforms to Japan, where it will offer broadband services for a multi-week period before returning to New Mexico. The demonstration will be one of the last steps the company will take before it's ready to sell its product commercially, Frandsen said. SoftBank has been developing similar satellite-adjacent services since 2017, company president Junichi Miyakawa said in a statement. High-altitude platform station technology will 'play a key role in expanding network area coverage' to places that are difficult to reach with existing networks, Miyakawa said, adding that the services 'will also provide a means of restoring communications when large-scale disasters strike.' Previously, Sceye has partnered with NASA and the US Geological Survey to provide climate and environmental imaging.
Japan Times
26-06-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
SoftBank backs startup building giant floating climate stations
A startup building massive, bullet-shaped helium balloons that float in the stratosphere has raised $15 million (¥2.17 billion) from SoftBank as part of an effort to monitor climate data and bring connectivity to hard-to-reach areas. The company, called Sceye, has built more than 20 of its zeppelin-like airships, stationed at a sprawling 3,865-square-meter warehouse in New Mexico. The vehicles — technically called high-altitude platform stations — are 65.2 meter long, almost the size of a Boeing 747's wingspan, and are equipped with specialized cameras and radars. Designed to hover above the earth for months at a time, Sceye's monitoring stations can capture real-time data on wildfires, flooding and greenhouse gases. They can also provide wireless service to people on the ground during large-scale disasters. The company's CEO Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen said that he expected SoftBank — the telecom unit of the tech conglomerate SoftBank Group — to be an important strategic partner to the startup. "As a telephone company, it knows the limitations of towers and fiber optic cables and satellite constellations,' Frandsen said. "This is a critical area for them to come into.' Founded in 2014, the company has notched a valuation of $580 million with the latest investment. Other backers of the company include Saudi investor Mawarid Holdin. Sceye (pronounced "sky') began testing its high-tech balloons nine years ago with a much smaller prototype. Last year, the company led its first "full diurnal flight,' meaning one of its stations stayed afloat in an area for more than 24 hours — a feat Frandsen said helped prove the efficacy of its strategy to stay operational using solar power in the day and batteries at night. With its new funding and SoftBank partnership, next year Sceye plans to fly one of its stratospheric platforms to Japan, where it will offer broadband services for a multi-week period before returning to New Mexico. The demonstration will be one of the last steps the company will take before it's ready to sell its product commercially, Frandsen said. SoftBank has been developing similar satellite-adjacent services since 2017, company president Junichi Miyakawa said in a statement. High-altitude platform station technology will "play a key role in expanding network area coverage' to places that are difficult to reach with existing networks, Miyakawa said, adding that the services "will also provide a means of restoring communications when large-scale disasters strike.' Previously, Sceye has partnered with NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey to provide climate and environmental imaging.
Bloomberg
25-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
SoftBank Backs Startup Building Giant Floating Climate Stations
A startup building massive, bullet-shaped helium balloons that float in the stratosphere has raised $15 million from SoftBank Group Corp. — part of an effort to monitor climate data and bring connectivity to hard-to-reach areas. The company, called Sceye Inc., has built more than 20 of its zeppelin-like airships, stationed at a sprawling 41,600-square-foot warehouse in New Mexico. The vehicles — technically called high-altitude platform stations — are 214 feet long, almost the size of a Boeing 747's wingspan, and are equipped with specialized cameras and radars.
