Korea’s Unmanned Drone ‘EAV-3’ Is in the Stratosphere

Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) has succeeded in launching its unmanned drone, the 'EAV-3'. According to researcher Kim Seung-ho on August 11, the aircraft has taken off at the Goheung Space Center and has reached 14.12km above the Earth's surface.

This is the first instance that Korea has designed a high-altitude surveillance drone as well as the first time that the country has launched an unmanned aircraft into the stratosphere. Considering the thin air, it's impossible for normal aircrafts to stay in the air. Fighter planes, on the other hand, can easily zoom past high altitudes.

Thanks to state-of-the-art technology and the ingenuity of the KARI team, what the people would think as a scene from sci-fi films - an aircraft flying several altitudes from the ground without a pilot - has now become a reality.

The drone hovers in the stratosphere to survey or observe certain land areas. Its power comes from highly efficient solar cells placed on the wings, allowing it to fly for a minimum of days or a maximum of years. It has 20 centimeter-wide wings yet weighs only 53 kg, thanks to the material used - high-tech carbon fiber developed in the country. While the 'EAV-3' doesn't reach higher altitudes compared to a satellite, it has a handful of advantages.

It stays up regardless of the weather condition, whether it's sunny or stormy. It can examine a specific area for longer periods, unlike a satellite that only passes by - which means that it can only get so many images.

A satellite can float 500 km or higher from the Earth's surface while taking clear pictures. The unmanned drone, on the other hand, flies within considerable distance of an observed location. It's installed with a camera that takes more or less the same quality images as those obtained by a satellite.

The research and development costs of Arirang, the multi-purpose satellite 3A have amounted to 237.3 billion won (around $200.99 million). The costs of a high-altitude drone, on one hand, have only amounted to 1 billion won (around $847,000). Such a budget-friendly aircraft can even give communication services, depending on how it is used. If it flies close to the Earth, it can provide free wireless internet connection to certain areas.

KARI researcher Kim has stated that their team is looking forward to joint research opportunities with other groups in the country. When that time comes, they'll be able to develop a more high-tech unmanned drone that can stay in the stratosphere for weeks.