South Korea’s leading oil refiner GS Caltex Corp. active in reinventing its gas station network as the hub of new mobility and logistics distribution demonstrated drone-based delivery service.

The company flew off a drone at GS Caltex gas pump in Jeju Island on Monday morning to deliver a ready meal box from a GS25 convenience store to a consumer who placed an order via GS25’s ‘My Refrigerator’ application.

The drone safely completed its mission. It then went on to deliver sandwiches to an elementary school 800 meters away from the gas station.

The project has been conducted in cooperation with the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and GS Retail.

Jeong Hoon, head of logistics technology research center at ETRI who led the drone development, said it will carry out the test flight once a month to enable drone delivery services in the real world soon.

“The drone is designed to withstand strong wind with a speed of 10 meters per second,” Jeong said. “We will enhance safety by carrying out numerous test flights on a regular basis.”

GS Caltex jointed the state project to create a system in which a drone parked at a GS Caltex gas station deliver products selling at GS25 convenience stores to consumers who place orders through GS25 app. ETRI will continue to enhance capability of the drone to carry up to 10-kilogram packages and drive 10 kilometers for one trip.

Drones would serve well in the resort island to reach better to islets and mountainous areas.

The country’s top oil refiner has been making bold additions to the traditional gas stations. It has added electric and hydrogen power to traditional fuel as well as car washing and maintenance, car-sharing, grocery and parcel delivery services.

By Won Ho-sup and Choi Mira

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]