Demonstration experiment begins to strengthen drone communication security - GMO GlobalSign's security technology makes the skies secure too -

ProDrone, Inc. (Representative Director and President: Shunsuke Totani; hereinafter referred to as PRODRONE), an industrial drone system manufacturer, has begun a demonstration experiment to strengthen drone communication security with GMO GlobalSign, Inc. (Representative Director and President: Ichiro Nakajo; hereinafter referred to as GMO Globalsign), which provides electronic authentication services.
GMO GlobalSign is a group of consolidated companies of GMO Internet Group's GMO Cloud, Inc., and signed a basic agreement with PRODRONE in November of last year regarding the provision of technology to strengthen the security of "communications and control" in preparation for the social implementation of drones.

[Contents of demonstration experiment efforts]
Towards social implementation of drones Latest roadmap*1 details the environmental preparation and technology development aimed at achieving beyond visual line of sight flight (Level 4) of small unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) in manned areas, with a goal of 2022. Among these development elements, we recognize that a major issue is countermeasures against security risks, such as ``hijacking'' of the aircraft and operation system during drone operation, and ``tampering'' and ``eavesdropping'' of communication data sent from the drone.
For beyond visual line-of-sight flight (Level 4), which will become more common in the future, countermeasures against security risks related to drone communication are an essential element, which led to our efforts in this demonstration experiment.
Specifically, a security chip containing GMO GlobalSign's electronic certificate will be installed in a PRODRONE drone, and demonstration experiments will be conducted on mutual authentication of the drone controller and aircraft, encryption of communications, and anonymization of data transmission from the drone.

PRODRONE will obtain a wide range of information and knowledge regarding electronic certificates and security technology provided free of charge by GMO GlobalSign, and will proceed with the implementation of technology to conceal aircraft operation information, transportation material information, acquired data, customer and billing data, etc. during actual operation.
*1 “Roadmap for the Industrial Revolution of the Sky 2020” https://www.kantei.go.jp/jp/singi/kogatamujinki/pdf/siryou14.pdf

■What is “GlobalSign”?
We started providing services in Belgium in 1996, when electronic authentication services were just beginning to appear in the world, and we were the first certification authority in Europe to obtain WebTrust certification. We have many achievements with Belgian government-related organizations and provide certification to the Belgian Government Certification Authority, which is the top certification authority for Belgian e-government projects such as eID* (BELPIC). We joined the GMO Internet Group in 2006 and have been selling and developing government-level security not only in Japan but around the world. Currently, we have a track record of issuing 25 million electronic certificates, including SSL server certificates, and a large number of deliveries to government-related organizations and major companies.
We also participate in CABF (CA/Browser Forum) and the Anti-Phishing Working Group, and are actively working as a leading company in the electronic certificate market. Furthermore, since May 2018, we have joined the Cloud Signature Consortium, an international organization formed by experts from the electronic signature industry and academia established by Adobe in 2016, and are participating in the determination of open standards for implementing electronic signatures on the cloud that comply with international laws and regulations.
*eID: A national ID card project started as part of Belgium's e-government project. ID cards with electronic certificates will be distributed to all Belgian citizens over the age of 12.

■About Prodrone Co., Ltd.
Prodrone Co., Ltd. is a B2B company whose goal is to become the world's number one industrial drone system manufacturer and change the world. We provide a one-stop service for many companies entering the industrial drone market, from research consulting, aircraft development, control software development, service application development, and mass production.

■Prodrone Co., Ltd. Company Profile
・Company name: PRODRONE Co., Ltd.
・Representative: Shunsuke Toya, President and Representative Director
・Capital: 100 million yen
・Head office location: 1-115 Nakadaira, Tenpaku-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 468-0014
・Website: https://www.prodrone.com/jp

■Contact information regarding this matter
Prodrone Co., Ltd.
E-mail: info-jp@prodrone.com
Person in charge: Kawakami TEL: 052-890-8803