2015 marked the first Commercial UAV Expo in Las Vegas, NV. Now representing more than 3,500 industry experts from 60 different countries, the Commercial UAV Expo is considered the premier annual drone event, one that has influenced similar expos around the world. This includes the successful 2024 Korea Drone Expo. Held at the Songdo Convensia Convention Center in Incheon from May 9th through May 11th, the 2024 Korea Drone Expo was hosted by the South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (MOLIT) and the Incheon Metropolitan City. The name of this year’s event was “Drones Come True,” an apt name for an industry that is constantly making a reality out of innovative dreams. This year, South Korea opened the expo to drone companies from foreign countries as well. With more than 20 countries being represented, the 2024 Korea Drone Expo was the largest drone-related expo to be held outside of the United States.

During the expo, drones being used for everything from data collection to agricultural applications, search and rescue, videography, research and development, and racing were on display. As the event was co-hosted by the MOLIT, military drone applications were of particular importance. Currently, South Korea is facing a population decline due to low birth rates, which is affecting military enrollment. During one of the presentations, South Korean Defense Ministry Drone Operations Commander Jeon Eun-Chol spoke directly to this fact. “Due to the second demographic drop-off, military resources are continually decreasing, making the survival of each combatant more important than anything else,” Commander Eun-Chol said. “It’s anticipated that drones can compensate for the lack of personnel and minimize casualties through collaboration via data links between unmanned systems, thereby enhancing combat efficiency.”

But perhaps one of the most talked-about aspects of the 2024 Korea Drone Expo was the inclusion of the 2024 International Drone Football Festival and the Guinness World Record-winning World Drone Light Show 2024. Drone football, or soccer, was invented by a group of drone enthusiasts from South Korea’s CAMTIC Institute of Technology in 2016. Since then, it has grown hugely popular, especially throughout Asia and the United States. Drones, encased in specially designed soccer ball-shaped cages, are used to fly through a goal while an opposing team tries to defend the goal.

It is a fast-paced sport that combines science, technology, engineering, and competition in a way that fosters a love for learning. This aspect is what has made it a popular way of getting kids involved in the world of drones. The key to making drone soccer a success, according to MOLIT Director of Advanced Aviation Kim Dong-hyun, is the cage that encircles the drone, turning it into a soccer ball. “South Korean companies are the only ones that can make drone soccer balls with carbon materials that meet international standards,” he said. More than 300 players participated in the drone soccer competition that ran the course of the expo.

To close out the opening ceremony for the expo, UVify performed their Guinness World Record-breaking Drone Light Show. Founded in 2014 by South Korean natives Chulwoo Park and Hyon Lim, UVify is based out of the San Francisco Bay Area, CA. On May 1, 2024, they set a new world record for the most drones flying simultaneously. Flying 5,293 drones, UVify lit up the night sky once again on the 9th. The drone animations featured images of a giant drone, combating drone soccer balls, a delivery drone, and other drone-related concepts. The drone light show was the perfect way to kick off what would go on to be an amazing 3 days dedicated to the pursuit of drone advancements.

The 2024 Korea Drone Expo demonstrated the rapid evolution and expanding applications of drone technology, underscoring its potential to impact diverse sectors from military operations to sports and entertainment, while highlighting South Korea’s pivotal role in this dynamic industry. With its blend of cutting-edge technology and engaging activities, the expo not only showcased advancements in drone technology but also inspired future developments and collaborations in the field. When describing UVify’s record-breaking mission, COO Robert Cheek perfectly captured the true meaning behind the expo’s title, “Drones Come True.” “What was once only a figment of imagination is now reality,” Cheek said. “As part of UVify’s effort to make a better tomorrow, today, we shall continue to push the limits of creativity and technology.”

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