Wavelabs Achieves Korea's First Domestic Production of Drone Wireless Communication Equipment, Obtains 'KC Certification'

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunseok Yoo] Wave Labs, a company specializing in drone wireless communication equipment development, has completed the development of a long-range RF (radio frequency) communication module for long-distance drone flights, the first of its kind in Korea.

Wave Labs announced on the 1st that it has developed an RF module with a maximum communication output of 1W (+30dBm) based on U.S. (FCC certification) standards and has received KC certification.

Wireless communication technology is the most critical core technology in drones, a key field of the 4th Industrial Revolution. Existing drone products based on LTE communication have limitations in that they cannot fly in areas where LTE communication is disrupted, such as mountainous regions, military zones, and border areas.

Drones equipped with Wave Labs' domestically first-developed RF module, the W2400 (model name), can achieve stable and long-distance flights in areas where line of sight is secured. Currently, this equipment relies on overseas products from countries such as the U.S. and Canada, so Wave Labs' success in domestic production is expected to expand the domestic drone market and reduce foreign currency expenditure through import substitution, according to the company.

Additionally, Wave Labs' RF communication module can be utilized for monitoring and maintenance of wind power plants, which are gaining attention under the recent Green New Deal policy, and is also expected to greatly contribute to the development of transportation industries such as drone-based delivery.

Wave Labs is promoting the supply of RF modules for military training drones and Doosan Mobility Innovation (DMI) water drones through an MOU.

Seonghyuk An, CEO of Wave Labs, said, "With this KC certification as a milestone, we established a U.S. branch in Georgia last October to actively enter the overseas market," and added, "We are proceeding with overseas certifications for Wave Labs' RF communication modules in the U.S., Europe, Australia, and other regions, planning to aggressively target overseas markets."

He continued, "We are also steadily conducting research and development to pioneer new markets such as drone control systems and LTE-linked equipment," adding, "We expect to launch a long-range tracking antenna next year that can locate drones beyond visual line of sight."