Naver has invested in UbiFly, a company specializing in autonomous drone platforms, and established a strategic partnership. The collaboration aims to expand physical AI business by integrating artificial intelligence (AI), cloud, and digital twin technologies with autonomous drones, targeting the public and smart city markets.
On June 1, Naver announced its investment in UbiFly and the formation of a cooperative framework. The two companies plan to explore new service models that combine autonomous drones with AI and work together to develop a next-generation unmanned systems ecosystem.
UbiFly develops drone swarm flight technology and autonomous flight platforms. Since its inception, the company has focused on international markets and recently became the first domestic drone company to receive the "$10 Million Export Tower" award. Additionally, it is the only domestic company participating in the Dronecode Foundation's board, which leads the development of the global drone operating system PX4.
Through this collaboration, Naver intends to combine its technological capabilities in AI, cloud, and digital twin with UbiFly's drone hardware and operational expertise. As physical AI, which extends AI's capabilities beyond software to control real-world objects and machines, emerges as a significant industry trend, drones are expected to be utilized in various fields, including public safety, facility management, and urban operations.
UbiFly is also expected to accelerate its efforts in the public drone market based on Naver's AI technology. The companies plan to integrate AI and digital twin technology into autonomous drones to establish a more sophisticated unmanned operational system and expand business opportunities, particularly in smart cities and public sectors.
Choi Soo-yeon, CEO of Naver, stated, "As the potential for physical AI, autonomous driving, and robotics continues to grow, drones are also becoming an important area of future technology. The combination of Naver's physical AI capabilities and UbiFly's drone technology can create new possibilities across various industries."
Lim Hyun, CEO of UbiFly, remarked, "With this investment, we will enhance our swarm drone technology and implement physical AI solutions across various industrial sectors, including public and smart cities."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.