(ToBS communication Signs Three-Party MOU with UND and Korea Aerospace University to Advance the Safety of Future Low-Altitude Airspace)

ToBS communication Co., Ltd. signed a three-party Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on March 18, 2026, with the Research Institute for Autonomous Systems (RIAS) at the University of North Dakota (UND) and the Aerospace University Research Center (AURC) at Korea Aerospace University (KAU) to promote collaboration in safe low-altitude airspace integration and next-generation unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) technologies.

The agreement comes as drone and UAS operations continue to expand rapidly, creating a growing need for safe and scalable airspace solutions that enable both manned and unmanned aircraft to operate within shared low-altitude airspace.

Under the MOU, the three organizations will pursue research and technical collaboration, along with phased demonstration and validation activities, in areas including aerospace systems, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), autonomous airspace operations, and communication-enabled cooperative airspace operations.

A key area of collaboration will be the exploration and advancement of Cooperative Airspace Operations, in which unmanned aircraft share their position, movement, and operational information and cooperate with one another to support safe separation.

Through this approach, the three organizations aim to explore technologies that can support safe aircraft-to-aircraft separation in increasingly dense UAS environments while establishing a technical foundation for the safe coexistence of manned and unmanned aircraft within shared low-altitude airspace.

Under the agreement, ToBS communication will support relevant technologies and operational activities, while KAU AURC will contribute academic and research expertise. UND RIAS, subject to applicable policies and separate agreements, will support testbed activities and technical validation, bringing together the complementary capabilities of the three organizations.

The collaboration will also explore opportunities for phased demonstrations and joint validation activities in Korea and the United States, joint technical reports and knowledge exchange, potential discussions related to international standardization and policy development, and engagement with stakeholders across the aviation, regulatory, and industry communities.

Beyond research and technical exchange, the collaboration is intended to establish a foundation for broader Korea-U.S. cooperation, with the potential to expand from demonstration and validation to international standardization and industry collaboration.

ToBS communication is developing communication-enabled airspace safety technologies based on direct aircraft-to-aircraft communication, enabling aircraft to directly share position, movement, and operational information to support safe separation in low-altitude airspace.

Through this three-party Korea-U.S. collaboration, ToBS communication plans to expand joint research and demonstration activities and advance the international demonstration, validation, and broader adoption of technologies designed to support the safety of future low-altitude airspace, where increasing numbers of unmanned and manned aircraft are expected to operate together.