SKT Shares UAM Technology and Patent Trends with KIPO to "Lead Commercialization"

SK Telecom announced on the 20th that it held a meeting at the SKT Pangyo office to share the latest domestic and international technologies and patent trends related to Urban Air Mobility (UAM) with the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) and exchange various opinions.

This meeting was organized to promote corporate research and development achievements and support the rapid acquisition of fundamental patents by mutually sharing technology and intellectual property trends through KIPO's visit to the frontlines of the UAM industry, which is regarded as a key future mobility sector.

SK Telecom SKT Tower Exterior View

The meeting was attended by Yoon Byung-soo, Director of the Digital Convergence Examination Bureau at KIPO, and examiners from the Autonomous Driving Examination Division. From SKT, Kim Tae-hwan, Compliance Promotion Officer, Lee Jong-min, Future R&D Officer, Ryu Tak-gi, Infrastructure Technology Officer, and other staff participated.

SKT introduced its UAM vision, flight management, traffic control, and aerial network communication technologies, stating that it is continuously filing patents for the developed technologies. KIPO presented the results of patent statistical surveys on UAM, autonomous driving sensors, and related services. Both parties freely exchanged various opinions to strengthen intellectual property competitiveness.

SKT plans to utilize UAM as a medium to achieve AI transformation (AIX, AI Transformation) in the mobility sector, linked to its vision as an ‘AI company.’ In June, SKT made a strategic investment of $100 million (approximately 135.9 billion KRW) in the global UAM aircraft manufacturer Joby Aviation, securing exclusive rights to use Joby aircraft in the Korean market.

SKT is leading the standardization of ‘UAM service architecture and interworking specifications’ at ITU-T, the international standardization organization for information and communication technology under the United Nations, while securing related patents. Additionally, through active cooperation with the government and various related organizations, SKT is taking the lead in fostering and activating the UAM-related technology ecosystem as a future mobility solution.

SKT is developing services linked with service-type mobility (MaaS) as well as 4D trajectory-based operational flight control and route deviation monitoring technologies that enable safe and automated aircraft operation. These technologies and services will be verified and commercialized through the ‘Korean Urban Air Mobility Demonstration Project’ (K-UAM Grand Challenge).

SKT is also actively engaged in research and development of UAM aerial network communication technologies. In February, at MWC, SKT presented its vision and R&D direction for aerial networks to transmit and receive data between UAM aircraft and passengers. It is developing core communication technologies for aerial network base stations and terminals, including upward tilt, beam patterns, and handover methods for high-speed moving aircraft. Furthermore, SKT is actively developing integrated solutions and simulators for real-time and predictive communication quality analysis to establish an optimal commercial UAM aerial network.

Yoon Byung-soo, Director of the Digital Convergence Examination Bureau at KIPO, said, “Through this exchange, the UAM industry is expected to strengthen intellectual property competitiveness, and examiners will acquire the latest technologies, which will help improve examination quality.”

Kim Tae-hwan, Compliance Promotion Officer at SKT, stated, “SKT plans to open the AI mobility era that changes the paradigm of movement by integrating UAM with AI technology,” adding, “We will lead the commercialization of UAM in Korea by securing intellectual property competitiveness related to UAM.”