ABSTRACT
Luna is an innovative helium balloon lighting system designed to revolutionize exterior illumination for construction sites, events, and emergency operations. Combining superior light quality with breakthrough affordability, Luna offers a compelling alternative to traditional light towers through advanced engineering and sustainable design.
Vision and Innovation
The Luna project reimagines portable lighting by addressing fundamental inefficiencies in traditional light towers. Our solution delivers exceptional illumination quality from heights up to 50 meters while maintaining dramatically lower costs and minimal environmental impact. Every design decision is validated through rigorous mathematical modeling and simulation before physical prototyping.
Core Competitive Advantages
- Superior Light Quality: Diffused, uniform illumination from elevated position eliminates harsh shadows and glare
- Exceptional Affordability: Production cost of €750 vs €2,000-5,000 for comparable light towers
- Extreme Portability: 15kg total weight (packable) vs 400kg+ for traditional towers
- High Efficiency: 190 lm/W LED performance with helium cooling system
- Minimal Ecological Footprint: 95% lower CO₂ emissions per illuminated area
Project Status
Current Phase: Engineering validation and regulatory approval (as of November 2025)
- ✅ April 2025: Comprehensive technical documentation and business plan completed
- ✅ July 29, 2025: FESR Azione 1.3.3. EU Grant acceptance received (with ColivingLiguria)
- ✅ August 2025: Core technology patent filed
- 🔄 October-November 2025: Legal approval process with ENAC/EASA ongoing
- 📅 December 2025: First prototype construction planned at Luna Lab
- 📅 January 2026: Market validation phase begins
See the complete Project Timeline for detailed milestones.
Technical Overview
Luna is a 5-10 m³ helium-filled balloon constructed from specialized Mylar material, housing high-efficiency LED modules cooled by an innovative helium circulation system. The entire assembly weighs under 2kg and operates at heights of 10-25 meters.
Key Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Luminous Output | 100,000 lumens |
| Operating Height | 10-50 m |
| LED Power | 600W |
| Luminous Efficacy | 190 lm/W |
| Maximum Wind Rating | 35 m/s |
| Total Weight | < 2 kg |
| Illuminated Radius (≥10 lux) | 25 m |
System Architecture
The system integrates several innovative subsystems:
- Lift System: Helium buoyancy with optimized volume-to-weight ratio
- Optical System: High-efficiency LED arrays with advanced diffusion
- Cooling System: Forced helium convection leveraging 6× thermal conductivity vs air
- Stabilization System: Three-point nylon anchoring with calculated tension distribution
- Safety Systems: Dual redundant sensors with autonomous emergency protocols
- Control Software: Two-tiered architecture for simulation and real-time operation
Read the complete Technical Documentation for detailed engineering analysis.
Market Position
Luna targets the €1.7 billion European light tower market (5.2% CAGR), with particular focus on high-growth segments:
- Construction Sites (35-40% of market): Superior cost-effectiveness for temporary lighting
- Events (luxury and recreational): Premium diffused lighting with aesthetic appeal
- Emergency & Disaster Relief (9.8% CAGR): Lightweight deployment in difficult terrain
Our analysis shows Luna can be profitably offered at €1,250 sale price or €125/day rental - dramatically undercutting competitors while maintaining 40-60% margins.
Explore our Market Research and Competitive Analysis.
Business Model
Luna employs a phased market entry strategy optimized for the rental-dominated market (60% share, 8.5% CAGR):
- Phase 1 - Local Rental Testing: Validate product-market fit with supervised deployments
- Phase 2 - Scalable Rental Model: European expansion with user-friendly packages
- Phase 3 - Manufacturing & Sales: Direct sales alongside subscription tiers (€200-1,500/year)
See detailed business model and scaling strategy.
Sustainability Leadership
Luna delivers exceptional environmental performance through multiple pathways:
- Energy Efficiency: 3× illuminated area per watt vs average light towers
- Emissions Reduction: 0.05 g CO₂/hr·m² vs 0.77 g for typical diesel towers
- LED Adoption Catalyst: Lowest-cost LED solution accelerates market transition from inefficient alternatives
- Transportation Impact: Negligible shipping emissions vs dedicated truck delivery for 400kg+ towers
Full analysis in our Sustainability Report.
Legal and Regulatory Status
Luna is classified as a tethered gas balloon for commercial operations under European aviation regulations. Our comprehensive regulatory research has engaged:
- EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency): CS 31GB.28 classification
- ENAC (Italian Civil Aviation Authority): Formal inquiry submitted May 2025
We are currently awaiting official guidance on operational boundaries for construction sites and event venues. See complete regulatory analysis and patent details.
Development Resources
Documentation and Code
- GitHub Repository: Luna Project Software - Physical models and safety systems
- Overleaf Documentation: Original technical docs - Comprehensive LaTeX source
- Python Physical Models: Full simulation environment for thermal, optical, and fluid dynamics analysis
Collaboration Opportunities
Luna is a flagship project within the ColivingLiguria ecosystem and actively seeks co-founders in:
- Materials Science: Advanced polymers and textiles for envelope optimization
- Robotics & Mechatronics: Sensor integration and electronics packaging
- Software Engineering: Physical modeling and embedded systems
- Sales & Business Development: Market entry and customer relationship building
See founder information and visit ColivingLiguria for Startups and Cofounders for collaboration details.
Contact and Next Steps
- Founder: Simone Testino
- General Inquiries: See Contacts Luna
- Project Location: Based in Liguria, Italy with Luna Lab at ColivingLiguria facilities
Documentation Structure
Technical Documentation
Business Documentation
Legal and Operations
- Regulatory Research
- Patent Information
- Legal Concerns
- Luna Lab
- Production Methods
- Marketing Strategy