Korean Air unveils AI pilot technology at South Korea expo
· UPIJuly 15 (Asia Today) -- Korean Air unveiled an artificial intelligence system designed to pilot future combat aircraft Wednesday at South Korea's largest exhibition for drones and urban air mobility.
The airline is displaying the technology, called AI Pilot, at the 2026 Korea Drone & UAM Expo, which runs through Friday at Songdo Convensia in Incheon.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Incheon metropolitan government are jointly hosting the three-day event, which features technologies involving drones and urban air mobility, or air taxi services.
Korean Air organized its exhibition around artificial intelligence, uncrewed aircraft platforms, digital aircraft maintenance and integrated air taxi operating systems. Videos and robotic equipment demonstrate the company's next-generation technologies.
The airline is displaying ACROSS, its integrated traffic management system for advanced air mobility aircraft. The system is designed to monitor multiple aircraft in real time and provide optimal flight routes.
Korean Air said ACROSS completed the first two demonstration phases of the government's Korean Urban Air Mobility Grand Challenge, a program intended to test technologies and operating procedures for commercial air taxi services.
The company's autonomous flight display includes AI Pilot and several uncrewed aircraft platforms under development.
The exhibition also features a low-observable collaborative combat aircraft designed to operate in formation and a flight-test aircraft connected to a development project with U.S. defense technology company Anduril Industries.
Korean Air and Anduril signed an agreement in 2025 to jointly develop uncrewed aircraft systems and explore production opportunities in South Korea.
Korean Air said it is developing the technologies as part of a broader effort to build integrated systems in which crewed and uncrewed aircraft operate together with artificial intelligence.
The airline also introduced a digital maintenance system that uses robots and artificial intelligence to inspect aircraft.
An inspection drone examines the upper surfaces of an aircraft, while an inspection rover performs checks from the ground. Artificial intelligence analyzes images captured by the machines and can identify defects as small as 1 millimeter, or about 0.04 inches.
Korean Air said the system has reduced the time required for an exterior aircraft inspection from about 10 hours to one hour. The company is preparing the technology for commercial use.
"We will widely promote Korean Air's advanced strategic aviation technologies in the global market," a company representative said.
"We will continue to lead the digital transformation of South Korea's aerospace industry through sustained technological innovation," the representative said.
The government describes the Korea Drone & UAM Expo as the country's leading exhibition dedicated to drones and advanced air mobility. The sixth annual event includes exhibitions, conferences, flight demonstrations and programs aimed at helping South Korean companies enter overseas markets.
-- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260715010005668