Doosan Mobility Innovation (DMI) made an announcement on Jan. 8 (local time) that it has signed an agreement with Microsoft to develop solutions for hydrogen fuel cell drones.
Through the agreement, the two companies will develop drone software and monitoring solutions using Microsoft’s cloud platform, Auzure, and AI and IoT, and push for joint sales.
Doosan plans to increase synergy between the two companies by applying MS’ latest technology to DMI’s hydrogen fuel cell drones, which can fly for more than two hours, to collect, analyze and utilize vast amounts of data.
DMI signed a partnership with two U.S. companies at its CES booth on Jan. 7, announcing its entry into the U.S. market.
DMI signed a hydrogen supply contract with ReadyH2, a hydrogen supplier. As a result, DMI customers in the U.S. can receive hydrogen in a stable manner through ReadyH2.
DMI then signed an agreement with Skyfire Consulting, a U.S. public safety drone operation service company, to implement a pipeline check project in the U.S.
This is a project where DMI drones fly over major pipelines in the U.S. to check for abnormalities.
"We are planning to develop customized solutions by applying the latest technology of Microsoft, which has world-class competitiveness, to Doosan’s hydrogen fuel cell drones that have exceeded the limit of flying time for drones," DMI CEO Lee Doo-soon said. "We will actively enter the global market by working with partners from the U.S. and other countries."
DMI’s hydrogen fuel cell drones can fly for more than two hours, exceeding the flight time limit of conventional battery drones that lasted about 30 minutes. Last year, it successfully carried out a test with Skyfire to deliver medicine to its destination at 70 kilometers (43 miles) away from the starting point.
