Mobility One and Drone America Sign Strategic Partnership to Expand into U.S. and Global Markets

Mobility One (CEO Hyunwook Ryu), a specialist in integrated operations platforms for heterogeneous unmanned vehicles, announced that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with U.S.-based drone company Drone America (CEO Mike Richards) on August 26 to pursue opportunities in the U.S. and global markets.

Under the agreement, the two companies will conduct demonstration projects integrating Mobility One’s proprietary heterogeneous drone and robotics operations platform, M1UCS, with Drone America’s small- and medium-sized drone models. Based on the results, they will jointly pursue commercialization opportunities.

The scope of the partnership extends beyond unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The two companies agreed to expand the application of M1UCS to various types of unmanned vehicles (UxVs), including ground and maritime systems, while jointly identifying new business opportunities. They will also work closely to meet Blue UAS and Green UAS requirements and ensure compliance with the U.S. National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which are essential for entering the U.S. government, defense, and public-sector markets.

Another major area of cooperation will be the application of M1UCS-based mission planning, simulation, digital mapping, and integrated multi-vehicle operations technologies to autonomous systems education and professional workforce development at schools, universities, and technical training institutions in the United States. The companies believe that the skilled professionals and operational expertise developed through these educational programs will provide a foundation for future deployment in industrial environments and expansion into commercial markets.

At the heart of the agreement is the combination of Mobility One’s M1UCS software for integrated heterogeneous unmanned vehicle operations and Drone America’s hardware capabilities. Together, the companies aim to develop integrated solutions capable of operating multiple heterogeneous unmanned vehicles, moving beyond conventional single-platform operations.

Through this partnership, Mobility One has established a strategic foothold for entering the U.S. market by leveraging Drone America’s local network and hardware capabilities. Drone America, meanwhile, will add M1UCS’s integrated operations software to its existing hardware portfolio, enabling it to expand beyond the supply of individual drone systems and strengthen its position as an integrated unmanned systems solutions provider.

ALUX (CEO Dain Lee), a publicly listed Korean drone company with extensive experience in large-scale exports to the United States and global business operations, will also participate in the partnership by supporting aircraft development.

This partnership goes beyond a general expression of intent by specifying concrete demonstration projects and commercialization objectives. The two companies launched a joint working group immediately after signing the agreement and plan to produce demonstration results within the next several months, with the aim of moving rapidly into commercialization.

In particular, U.S.-based demonstrations of M1UCS and progress toward relevant regulatory and procurement compliance are expected to create new business opportunities across the defense, public-sector, and industrial unmanned systems markets. After validating the results of the initial demonstration projects, the companies plan to gradually expand the range of supported platforms and business areas while building a long-term partnership in the United States and other global markets.

[ Strengthening Local Partnerships to Target the U.S. UAS Market ]

Founded in Reno, Nevada, in 2009, Drone America is a UAS specialist engaged in the design, manufacturing, and operation of medium- and large-scale unmanned aircraft systems, including multirotor quadcopters, hybrid VTOL aircraft, and unmanned helicopter systems.

Drawing on its experience with U.S. Federal Aviation Administration-related flight operations, beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations, and projects for public-safety and government agencies, Drone America undertakes a wide range of UAS projects encompassing payload integration, mission design, flight testing, and operational deployment.

Mobility One specializes in technologies that enable various unmanned vehicles, including drones and robots, to be operated through a single integrated platform. Its proprietary M1UCS platform supports real-time monitoring and control, mission management, and multi-vehicle operations. The company provides unmanned solutions for a variety of applications, including aerial surveying, facility inspection, industrial safety, and disaster management. Mobility One has also been accelerating its expansion into the global drone and robotics markets by strengthening technical cooperation with overseas companies and institutions.

Beginning with this partnership, Mobility One and Drone America will advance through demonstration and commercialization phases, combining their respective technologies to expand their achievements in the United States and other global markets through integrated unmanned vehicle solutions.