High performance ‘Sports Drone’, which is made out of South Korean technologies from frame material that makes up body to assembly of each parts and final finished products, unlocked the doors of Japanese markets. Starting from initial supply of 220 drones that were shipped to Japan in last July, it is expected that about 5000 drones will be exported per month. Japan’s Eisan, who is the sole distributor in Japan, will supply drones to large-sized home electronic appliances markets such as Yamada Electronics and others.
A company manufacturing electronics parts called ESV (CEO Lee Jong Soo) and a company specializing in developing drones called Drogen (CEO Lee Heung Shin) established mass-production system in South Korea for their self-developed ‘FPV (First Person View) Drone’ and went into a full-scale business. Shortly after its release in Japanese market, they are also going to introduce it in South Korean market.
Their products ‘LOBIT300GT’ and ‘LOBIT320R’ can be controlled from first person point of view wearing goggles. They are high performance drones that have high speed flight of more than 80 km and abilities to continuously make loops in the air. After recording videos and taking pictures such as drone racing, flight technology contest and others, ESV and Drogen went after field of drone sports that is leading expansion of private drone market.
They produced these drones by developing major materials and parts with their own technologies and using South Korean manufacturing as basis. From a small screw to flying control board (FC) and main boards that are major components, carbon frames and aluminum parts, 90% of drones are from South Korean materials and parts. Difference between its performance and degree of completion compared to simple assembly made out of Chinese parts is huge.
Drogen even developed BLDC Motor that influences drone’s performance. Although Chinese companies were first in control of manufacturing them due to deadline of delivery, Drogen and ESV will use BLDC Motors that were developed by Korean companies starting from follow-up supplies. They made a mold and set up a basis for production by cooperating with a company that specializes in BLDC Motor in Jeonbuk. ESV is also developing its own camera modules, which are produced from South Korean manufacturing line, and putting them in drones starting from follow-up supplies. Matter of fact, 100% of localization will take place by end of this year.
Drogen’s LOBIT Drone, which was co-developed early this year, was once brought attention when small-sized supply of 180 drones was released in South Korean drone community. Afterwards South Korean businesses that specialize in manufacturing parts including Drogen and ESV cooperated with each other to co-develop parts for drones and set up mass-production system so they can be suitable for mass-production and assembly.
“By using our qualified skills and knowhow from previous Smart Car and Smart Home businesses, we will stand as the best sports drone global business along with Drogen.” said CEO Lee Jong Soo of ESV with emphasis.
Because frames, which are made out of South Korean carbon materials, have higher durability than Chinese carbon materials, there is a low chance that drones will be damaged in case of fall or collision during a flight. Although its production cost is relatively high, ESV and Drogen were able to secure high cost competitiveness compared to performance due to lowering of distribution cost, active cooperation between businesses, and combination of distribution windows.
Japan’s huge distribution business called Eisan, which is famous for Duty Free Shops and other businesses, became a sole distributor in Japan. ESV and Drogen are planning to sell drones at large markets and self distribution network and are also preparing for exports to the U.S.
“We wanted to break stereotype that it will be hard to operate a drone business with South Korean technologies and manufacturing when China and others are already preoccupied private drone industries. We are going to develop drone sports as a cultural industry by cooperating with local government hereafter.” said CEO Lee Heung Shin of Drogen.
◇Explanation of a term: FPV (First Person View)
FPV is known as when a person controls something from a first person point of view by attaching cameras onto remote-controlled (RC) planes or cars. In drone industry, one wears goggles and controls drones and it emerged as a popular sports.
Staff Reporter Park, Jungeun | jepark@etnews.com