SKT succeeds in demonstrating "Air Taxi" airport shuttle in the metropolitan area

SK Telecom succeeded in demonstrating UAM-based airport shuttle in the metropolitan area, which is called "air taxi," through "Korean Urban Air Traffic (K-UAM) Airport Demonstration."

SKT, along with Korea Airports Corporation, Hanwha Systems, Korea Transportation Research Institute, and T-Map Mobility, introduced an operation model for the commercialization of UAM in the Seoul metropolitan area on November 11.

SKT and its partners comprehensively demonstrated UAM's core capabilities in the service, infrastructure, aircraft, and research fields through the "Korean Urban Air Transport (K-UAM) Airport Demonstration" organized by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport at Gimpo International Airport.

On the day, SKT stably connected the UAM pilot and the ground control center, which had traveled over the outside Gimpo International Airport for about three minutes, with a mobile communication network and above the ground.

The test was for a demonstration to check elements necessary to establish an information-sharing system that allows UAMs to safely control when rising and getting off at airports and services that allow customers to use airport facilities and transfer quickly and conveniently to other modes of transportation.

SKT also succeeded in controlling autonomous flying drones linked to the K-Drone System on the same day, demonstrating technology that can manage aircraft using airports and UAM to unmanned aerial vehicles through ICT technology.

Additionally, T-Map Mobility introduced a next-generation mobility platform that conveniently links urban transportation with UAM. At the demonstration site, VR showed the arrival of a transfer vehicle assigned in time for the landing time of passengers flying by UAM.

T-Map Mobility expects fast and convenient reservation methods and safe boarding processes to determine the quality of UAM services, and plans to introduce an integrated mobility platform based on the capabilities accumulated through "T-Map" and "UT."

Korea Airports Corporation and Hanwha Systems, partners of the K-UAM Dream Team that collaborate with SKT, presented their advanced technology as well.

Korea Airports Corporation operated the nation's first UAM airport demonstration and implemented a future vertical port using UAM-aircraft integrated control system and business aviation terminals. Meanwhile, Hanwha Systems exhibited a real model of the five-seater air mobility aircraft "Butterfly," which flies safely and quickly at a maximum speed of 320 km/h.

On the other hand, the South Korean government is accelerating the demonstration of airport shuttle service in the metropolitan area with the goal of commercializing it in 2025. The routes centered on Gimpo Airport will consist of T-Map Mobility's app-based reservation and linked transportation boarding, and UAM operation and transportation management infrastructure using SKT's commerce and industry network communication technology.

SK Telecom CEO Yoo Young-sang said, "Based on SKT's advanced communication and digital infrastructure, we will play a key role in the development of the UAM industry to reduce social costs caused by traffic congestion and contribute to establishing eco-friendly transportation without greenhouse gas emissions."

Reported by Smart City Today