KDDI, Prodrone, and Zenrin form a business alliance in the drone business using mobile communication networks

~Promoting the ``smart drone concept'' that flies autonomously using a ``3D map of the sky''~

KDDI Corporation Prodrone Co., Ltd. Zenrin Co., Ltd.

KDDI Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, President and CEO: Takashi Tanaka, hereinafter KDDI) is a subsidiary of Prodrone Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, President and CEO: Masakazu Kono, hereinafter Prodrone) and Zenrin Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, President and Representative Director: Zenji Takayama, hereinafter Zenrin). We have agreed to form a business partnership with the company to commercialize the ``Smart Drone Platform,'' a safe and secure platform for drones that utilizes mobile communication networks. In addition to this business alliance, KDDI acquired the shares issued by Prodrone through a third-party allotment for 300 million yen. KDDI believes that in the IoT era, where various things are connected through the Internet, drones will be connected to mobile communication networks and even fly autonomously based on 3D spatial information. Together with Zenrin, which promotes research and development of ``3D maps of the sky,'' and Prodrone, which provides stable, high-performance aircraft, we will utilize the assets and know-how of each company in the drone business to develop a ``smart drone platform'' that realizes autonomous flight by linking with 3D maps, flight management information, etc. on the Internet. The "Smart Drone Platform" consists of a drone, a 3D map, flight management, and the cloud. It is a platform that can manage flight routes such as autonomous flight and collision avoidance for drones connected to a mobile communication network, as well as accumulate and analyze big data acquired by drones. Going forward, we will utilize the "Smart Drone Platform" to provide solutions such as equipment inspection, agricultural support, and disaster relief, as well as consumer services such as photography services, and promote the "Smart Drone Concept" in which networked drones play an active role in a variety of fields.■Autonomous flight and operation management image based on a "3D map of the sky"

<“Smart Drone Concept” Video>

■“Smart Drone Platform” development details by each company

In addition to a high-quality 4G LTE network with a population coverage rate of over 99%, KDDI will provide assets necessary for the IoT era, such as the utilization of these base stations and cloud services, to realize remote control/autonomous flight of drones.

Prodrone develops and manufactures high-end industrial drones that are "highly stable, highly functional, and highly safe" with unrivaled technological capabilities, such as the world's first large drone with two robot arms, the world's first drone that can inspect both walls and ceilings while sticking to it with negative pressure, and a drone that can land on the water surface and transmit underwater images in real time.We provide the best drone systems that meet a wide variety of needs. With this smart drone platform, Prodrone will develop a highly functional aircraft that can be directly connected to the 4GLTE network and can be freely controlled from a remote location, as well as its control system.

Zenrin is promoting the research and development of a "3D map of the sky" that converts airspace information into 3D based on the topographical and building information it possesses. We aim to build a foundation for safely guiding drones during autonomous flight. On November 15, 2016, KDDI received a license from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as a ``Practical Application Testing Bureau for the Use of Mobile Phones in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles'' to enable drones to use mobile communication networks. The three companies will now conduct demonstration experiments in preparation for the commercialization of the "smart drone platform" in 2017.

■Scenes from the day of the presentation (from YouTube)