South Korea's second-largest mobile carrier, KT Corp., has unveiled an emergency network service platform that features UAS for search and rescue operations.

Co-developed by a local UAS maker named Metismake Inc., the Skyship platform features a helium-powered airship and a high-resolution camera that can scan for mobile signals of people who need to be rescued.

Capable of scanning for LTE or high-end fifth-generation (5G) signals, the airship can determine a person's position “to within 50 meters” before sending UAS to find their exact location.

Once the signal of a survivor is picked up by the airship, the platform will deploy smaller UAS that will deliver emergency kits and supplies before actual rescue personnel arrive at the site.

“Skyship can find the name, age and other personal information when matched with their telecommunication data,” KT Corp. says via the Yonhap News Agency. The company adds that the information will be sent to hospitals and emergency crews as well.

Once the commercialization of 5G technology is completed, KT forecasts that the platform can be further utilized. This commercialization is slated to start next March. 

KT plans to complete the platform based on 5G technology and further feature up to eight UAS by 2020. Additionally, the company also plans to unveil Skyship3 that allows 11-hour flights.

“Skyship can fly unmanned drones up to 100 kilometers away from a control center, which is up to 20 times farther than conventional drones,” says Oh Seong-mok, president of the network business at KT.