Founded in 1896 by Park Seung-jik, Doosan is South Korea’s oldest-running company and one of the top 10 largest heavy equipment manufacturers worldwide. Headquartered in Seoul, the company has offices in 38 countries, employing more than 41,400 people. Perhaps best known for its position in the heavy equipment industry, Doosan owes much of its success to its ability to grow in a changing world. With the establishment of Doosan Corporation Fuel Cell Power, the company has become recognized as a leader in the field of alternative power sources.

With the emergence of the drone industry, Doosan became an early investor in powering drones for optimal output. Drones have shown nearly unlimited potential across numerous industries. However, there is one major flaw that is preventing them from reaching their full potential in commercial sectors: limited flight times. A drone can only support a battery large enough to allow it to fly for an average of 30 minutes. The larger the drone, the larger the battery needs to be, which adds more weight to the drone. A drone’s weight is directly proportional to its flight time. Other than traditional batteries, some drones use a hybrid gasoline source for longer flights, but this is not considered ideal.

To tackle this issue, the company created Doosan Mobility Innovation (DMI) to build on Doosan Corporation Fuel Cell’s expertise. Their fuel cell technology has the potential to reshape the drone industry by enabling longer, safer flights. “Fuel cell is an eco-friendly hydrogen generation technology that produces electricity by a chemical reaction involving hydrogen and oxygen. When supplied into the fuel cell, hydrogen is split into a positive hydrogen ion and an electron at the hydrogen reaction pole. Upon passing the electrolyte membrane, the positive hydrogen ion meets oxygen at the oxygen reaction pole and generates water and electricity. With this, you can power a drone for a long time,” DMI’s website states. “Since oxygen can easily be obtained from the atmosphere, mounting the fuel cell powerpack with DMI’s hydrogen tank is all you need to operate a drone.”

Doosan’s fuel cell is lightweight, more efficient than standard batteries used in drones, and safer and more ecologically friendly than alternative power sources, such as gasoline. A fuel cell is a clean energy source that produces zero carbon emissions. Complementing the fuel cell, DMI designed “The world’s first mass manufactured hydrogen fuel cell drone, DS30W opens new scope for drone use by making 2 hours of flight a reality,” the company stated. “This makes applications in industrial market possible.” The drone was tested in the U.S. Virgin Islands, completing an almost 45-mile journey over seawater and nearly 50 miles over land.

To further test the capabilities of drone fuel cells, DMI partnered with DroneUp, a drone delivery company based in Virginia Beach, Virginia. By incorporating DMI’s fuel cell with DroneUp’s delivery drones, the collaboration aims to prove the feasibility of the technology for a scalable commercial drone delivery operation. With a drone capable of flying for 2–5 hours, deliveries could be extended beyond last-mile, single-customer options. “The technology industry evolves incredibly quickly, and the drone industry evolves even faster,” said John Vernon, CTO of DroneUp. “It is absolutely critical we explore new technology like this and continue testing and validating how it can help us move forward. This collaboration is really interesting because it addresses two major aspects of commercial drone services, increasing flight time and reducing carbon emissions. We’re really excited to see the results from this as it could be a significant game-changer for the industry.”

As the drone industry continues to evolve, Doosan’s innovative fuel cell technology is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of commercial drone operations. By extending flight times, reducing environmental impact, and enhancing overall efficiency, Doosan’s advancements are not only solving a critical challenge but also opening up new opportunities across various industries. With its continued commitment to innovation, Doosan is positioning itself at the forefront of the next generation of sustainable drone technology, paving the way for a greener, more connected future. “Bottom line,” DMI says in a short explanatory video on fuel cells, “fuel cells use simple science and an abundant natural energy source to make extremely efficient energy.”

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