LOS = Line of Sight

This paper provides details of an endeavour to study the efficacy of aerostats as a platform for cost-effective wireless communication as an alternative to fixed tower networks, to fill the digital devoid of the communication in sharing the knowledge and information from urban societies to sparsely populated rural areas in India. The main design intent was to develop a platform to hold wireless communication equipment at an altitude of 100-250 m AGL, so that last-mile wireless connectivity could be established over a radius of around 10 km from the aerostat launch site. The paper provides details of a methodology for design and performance analysis of the aerostat, and examining the sensitivity of various operational parameters. The methodology is a systematic collation of various design approaches and concepts, which were examined during the ongoing design and field trial exercises related to remotely controlled airships and aerostats at the Lighter-Than-Air Systems Laboratory of the institute. The various design decisions were driven by the availability of local materials for different components. The paper describes the design process followed, and fabrication techniques employed for developing experimental aerostat prototypes