Competition for patents is fierce among domestic companies eager to get ahead in the drone market. (Image : Yonhap)
DAEJEON, Feb.15 (Korea Bizwire) – Competition for patents is fierce among domestic companies eager to get ahead in the drone market.
The Korean Intellectual Property Office announced that a total of 389 patents related to drones were applied for in 2015, which was a 161 percent increase compared to the previous year.
The number of patent applications for drones was around 30 before 2012, but started to show rapid growth with 126 cases in 2013, 149 cases in 2014 and 389 cases in 2015.
With drones in the spotlight as a promising growth engine, competition to secure a share of the market has become fierce with businesses making efforts in research and development, and rushing to apply for patents.
Numerous small and mid-sized businesses as well as research centers are leading the patent charge.
The scope of the technology covered in the patents is broad. Technology related to the flying vehicles themselves and operation techniques have the largest share of patent applications. Drones that can put out fires and drones that can carry survival equipment were also mentioned in patent applications last year.
Patents related to technology for take-off, landing, and charging also increased. For instance, a moving vehicle that can charge many drones simultaneously while also serving as a landing pad was the subject of a patent application.
As the government plans to commercialize drones this year, R&D efforts are expanding and investment in drones is increasing. The number of patent applications related to drones is expected to continue to rise.
By Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
