LGU+ Collaborates with Plana on UAM Data Transmission Research... Securing Flight Data

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Su-yeon] LG Uplus and domestic urban air mobility (UAM) aircraft startup ‘PLANA’ announced on the 13th that they have signed a business agreement for joint research on communication-based UAM data transmission.

PLANA is the only domestic company developing hybrid-based vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) electric propulsion aircraft. PLANA’s aircraft features a reduction of over 80% in carbon dioxide emissions compared to conventional helicopters by using SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel), the next-generation aviation fuel.

Jeon Young-seo, Head of Corporate Service Development Lab at LG Uplus (left), and Kim Jae-hyung, CEO of Plana, are conducting a business agreement ceremony and taking a commemorative photo at the Plana R&D Center located in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province.
[Photo by LG Uplus]

The business agreement ceremony held at PLANA’s R&D center in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, was attended by Jeon Young-seo, head of LG Uplus Enterprise Service Development Lab (in charge), and Kim Jae-hyung, CEO of PLANA, among others.

Through this business agreement, the two companies plan to develop data transmission technology between the UAM traffic management platform and aircraft, and jointly secure demonstration flight data linked with the UAM traffic management platform.

First, the two companies will secure a testbed to demonstrate aviation communication technology and will research and develop technology to transmit real-time flight paths, aircraft status, and weather data between avionics and the traffic management platform.

Additionally, by utilizing the UAM traffic management platform, they will verify urban air mobility management capabilities such as traffic control and collision avoidance within corridors (routes through which UAM aircraft travel to their destinations), while also securing demonstration flight data including aircraft flight data and high-altitude 5G·LTE coverage data.

LG Uplus is developing a UAM traffic management platform ahead of its participation in the government demonstration project ‘K-UAM Grand Challenge.’ Through the business agreement with PLANA, LG Uplus aims to enhance the completeness of the technology by developing data transmission technology and securing aircraft data.

Jeon Young-seo, LG Uplus representative, said, “Cooperation with PLANA, the only domestic developer of long-range hybrid-based VTOL aircraft, is expected to lay the foundation for the development of the UAM ecosystem,” adding, “By integrating communication technology not seen in conventional aircraft into UAM aircraft, we will maximize both flight safety and customer convenience.”

Kim Jae-hyung, CEO of PLANA, stated, “We are pleased to collaborate with LG Uplus, which has the highest quality communication network,” and added, “With commercialization targeted for 2028, the hybrid-based VTOL electric propulsion aircraft developed by PLANA is expected to lead the future UAM industry market, and this joint research with LG Uplus will be a significant milestone.”

Meanwhile, LG Uplus formed a consortium last May with companies possessing expertise in various fields such as Kakao Mobility and GS Construction to participate in the government demonstration project ‘K-UAM Grand Challenge.’ In July, it signed a business agreement with Busan Metropolitan City to create a UAM ecosystem, and in January of this year, it agreed to cooperate with Seoul Metro to establish a complex transfer center, preparing for the early commercialization of UAM.