Hanwha Systems participated in the “City, open sky” demonstration flight of drone taxi and the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) system as the representative of the UAM Team Korea industry on Nov. 11.
Hanwha Systems introduced the "mock-up" model of its PAV fuselage "Butterfly" for the first time in Korea and abroad, and unveiled innovative technologies and UAM businesses that will lead the UAM industry.
About 40 experts from UAM Team Korea and drone companies will participate in the project to demonstrate UAM technology and secure stability before commercializing air taxis in 2025.
The demonstration flight was conducted with China's "Ehang 216," which succeeded in a test flight in Austria in April last year. "Hexa" of Lift Aircraft in the U.S. showcased various functions through actual fuselage displays.
Hanwha Systems first unveiled its PAV-powered "Butterfly," which is being jointly developed with U.S. OverAir. Hanwha System's Butterfly is an 'Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL)' type and is applied with Tilt Rotor technology with low noise and high efficiency.
In addition, Hanwha Systems introduced the competitiveness of butterfly aircraft and the infrastructure construction project for the operation of the fuselage. Hanwha Systems is planning to build a "verti-hub" at Gimpo Airport, a high-level concept of the urban air traffic terminal "verti-port" where air taxies can take off and land with Korea Airports Corporation.
"We are preemptively building a UAM infrastructure that designs control and navigation operation at actual airports for the first time in the world with Korea Airports Corporation," said Kim Yeon-chul, CEO of Hanwha Systems.
"We will help lay the foundation for future transportation environment by making a leap forward as a global 'UAM Total Solution Provider' based on defense electronics and IT advanced technology."
