South Korean Telecom Launches Airship Drone Platform

In an effort to bolster a nationwide 5G community, South Korean telecom big KT Corp will launch a brand new drone platform to supply cell communications facilities that may additionally remotely management different UAVs for search and rescue operations.

Dubbed SKYSHIP, the platform features a helium-powered airship drone, cell floor station, in addition to put in smaller drones and robots. The airship will carry a pod crammed with propellants, cameras, community modules and a scanning gadget which might detect smartphone alerts to assist establish lacking individuals.

“Over the past years, KT has pioneered technological innovations in the field of disaster and safety management in South Korea,” stated Oh Seong-Mok, president of KT’s community enterprise. “We will continue our efforts as the ‘People’s Company’ to make the country safer and more secure with our advanced technological prowess, resources and know-how.”

During a media occasion final week, KT ran a catastrophe state of affairs simulating a distant search and rescue. SKYSHIP coordinated drone information with a close-by hospital and recognized a “disaster survivor,” whereas directing rescue employees by way of augmented-reality eyewear.

Seong-Mok explains:

“Signal scanning by Skyscan, which uses an ultra-small LTE device, can check the presence of survivors within a 50-meter radius, thereby narrowing the search area for faster rescues. When survivors are detected, Skyship will deploy drones to pinpoint their exact locations. Robots will then be dispatched on the ground to deliver emergency relief items, relay information to rescuers and take first-aid measures until rescuers arrive.”

To develop SKYSHIP, KT collaborated with Korean drone firm Metismake Inc. to develop its newest Skyship 2, a complicated model of its first Skyship launched final yr. The drone can fly as much as six hours with a most pace of 80 kilometers per hour, stand up to 13 meter-per-second winds and carry a payload of as much as 5 kilograms.

An organization launch notes:

“5G’s hyper-connectivity and ultra-low latency will enable rescue and medical crews to work more effectively. For example, the 4K UHD video footage filmed by Skyship drones and robots, and transmitted through a 5G network, can enable a more accurate analysis of disaster scenarios. 5G can also improve remote control and command in real time, along with other applied services.”