Daegu’s Sambo Motors electrifies visitors with its UAM
October 22, 2024The world's first hybrid UAM (urban air mobility) is unveiled. Sambo Motors, a mid-sized company representing Daegu, will present 'MIRxII (hereinafter referred to as Mirx2)', which sets a new standard in the UAM market, at the 'Daegu Future Mobility Expo (DIFA)' opening on the 19th.On the morning of the 18th, Sambo Motors held a 'Free sharing day' event and pre-released Mirx2. Research institutes including the Intelligent Automobile Parts Promotion Agency and the Aerospace Research Institute, as well as mobility experts from Hyundai Motor Company and Kia, attended the event and showed great interest in the new technology and products.
The biggest feature of this model is that it simultaneously utilizes hydrogen fuel cells along with existing batteries to overcome the short flight time and distance, which are considered weaknesses of UAM. It uses battery power during takeoff and uses hydrogen fuel cells as the main power source when moving horizontally in the sky. Looking at the detailed resources, the maximum speed is 80 km/h and it can fly up to 40 km one way. The maximum flight time is about 35 to 40 minutes. Sambo Motors began developing a hybrid UAM last year.
This year, it received a boost in research and development by participating in the 'Future Car Business Diversification Support Project' sponsored by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Hyundai Motor Company, and Kia Motors, and hosted by the Korea Automobile Parts Industry Promotion Foundation. It strengthened cooperation with leading domestic and foreign companies such as Innocom, Dong-A Precision, Dong-A Fuel Cell, and Nova, centered around Sambo A&T, an affiliate of Sambo Motors, and improved the level of completion by receiving advice from research institutes.
The battery-based UAM developed by Sambo Motors has passed the certification of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and obtained the first special airworthiness certificate in Korea. Currently, MirX2 is in the certification preparation stage, but there are high expectations that it will become a model recognized for its potential as a new form of UAM in the future.
Sambo Motors has succeeded in maximizing flight time by selectively and complexly driving two power sources, and plans to apply for domestic and international patents. It is also in the process of localizing related technologies such as aircraft weight reduction, power distribution devices, and position and attitude control devices. It is conducting various environmental tests and indoor flight tests for safety and reliability evaluations, and plans to apply for technology certification in the first half of next year.
Cho Byeong-rae, head of Sambo Motors' Integrated Technology Research Institute, said, "We are in the stage of setting a direction for a new future industry and taking a step forward," and added, "I hope that this DIFA will widely publicize the UAM technology we have accumulated so far and provide an opportunity for Sambo Motors to make a leap forward."
Meanwhile, Sambo Motors is also accelerating the development of mid- to long-term technologies, including mid-sized multipurpose drones. We are considering expanding our lineup to include medical drones for organ and blood transport for emergency patients, military drones that perform advanced military tactics, and logistics drones that can enter difficult-to-access areas.