MintAir partners with Wemap to demo 4D AAM map
MintAir has partnered with Wemap Co. to demonstrate a 4D AAM map in the South Korean city of Seongnam. The 4D mapping enables flight route development for AAM operations by voxelizing buildings and airspace.
Using a commercial drone, the demonstration flight was performed on September 24, 2022. The map provides a precise flying corridor for UAV and AAM routes, enables emergency route change, and prevents collusion with obstacles such as high-rise buildings. Also, the map provides real-time updates of airspace information.
MintAir CEO and founder Eugene Choi told Revolution.Aero: “The 4D map software has been developed for two years. MintAir plans to launch its AAM service in 2024, so that’s when the software will be used in real day-to-day operations.
“Our mission is to develop the safest advanced air mobility service in both urban and regional routes and the demonstration of the 4D AAM map solution is an important step forward to achieving this mission.” Choi added.
MintAir and Wemap developed the map solution to prepare for the K-UAM Grand Challenge programme organised by the Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport. The map is three dimensional, but the addition of communication makes it 4D.
This 4D AAM map will support passenger and cargo transportation via the proposed AAM hub in Seongnam, a satellite city in metropolitan Seoul. This hub will be able to provide urban and regional air service directly from a major metropolitan population centra to anywhere in Korea.
“Consider safety benefits of navigation software like Waze or Google Map plus the driver assistance package such as lane control. It is similar to those,” said Choi.
This demonstration comes on the heels of MintAir’s recent announcement about signing a letter of intent to add Electra.aero’s nine-passenger eSTOL aircraft to its fleet to provide regional air service in the Korean market.
MintAir also announced strategic partnerships with Jaunt Air Mobility and Skyworks Aeronautics.
