Naver Cloud to Commercialize Drones by 2023 with Qualcomm and Argosdyne

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] Naver Cloud announced on the 14th that it will collaborate with Qualcomm Technologies and Argosdyne in the 5G drone sector. Through this cooperation, each company plans to build a wireless network for drones using I-eum 5G and combine their technological expertise to develop a 5G drone system.

Naver Cloud will create infrastructure for an 'end-to-end' drone service that takes full responsibility from development to service by combining the network and cloud for I-eum 5G services. Argosdyne will provide a drone unmanned control platform compatible with cloud integration and will be responsible for developing drone airframes equipped with 5G and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies based on the Qualcomm Flight RB5 5G platform.

The Qualcomm Flight RB5 5G is the world's first drone platform, designed specifically for small unmanned aerial systems. Its key features include low-power heterogeneous computing, AI, 5G, and Wi-Fi 6 technologies, offering excellent connectivity over long distances. Additionally, users can manage cybersecurity and data security anywhere through AI processing integration while continuously controlling drone safety requirements.

Kim Tae-chang, Head of Business at Naver Cloud, said, "5G cloud enables ultra-low latency communication between devices, real-time analysis and processing, and service application, making it the most suitable solution for unmanned drone operation environments. As the first domestic I-eum 5G operator, we will maximize our technology and business capabilities to create optimized cloud-based drone business opportunities that meet customer needs."

Kwon Oh-hyung, Senior Vice President and Head of Asia-Pacific at Qualcomm Headquarters, stated, "We will leverage our technology and business capabilities to enhance the competitiveness of domestic 5G drones using I-eum 5G, contribute to the development and expansion of the market, and actively support domestic companies' entry into the global market."

Jung Seung-ho, CEO of Argosdyne, said, "We are pleased to collaborate with Qualcomm and Naver Cloud on 5G drones, having been recognized for our self-developed autonomous drone flight and unmanned operation systems. Through this, we will provide a more stable drone service infrastructure and establish a foundation for growth as a global company."

Through this collaboration, the companies plan to showcase prototypes in the second half of 2022 and conduct technology verification (proof of concept, PoC). Subsequently, they aim to prepare for the launch of commercial products targeting 2023.