During the 20th century, as the United States became the first nation in the world to require a mass automobile industry, Henry Ford paved the way for Detroit to become the home of the American automotive revolution. Detroit, lovingly called Motor City, quickly became one of the most industrious cities and the automotive capital of the world. However, the rapid growth of the city, poor planning, racial tensions, and corruption led to one of the most dramatic declines of what was once an American empire. After years of restructuring, private and government funding, Detroit is slowly returning to its former glory. One industry, in particular, is hoping to reinvent the success of the automotive revolution with technology befitting the 21st century: the drone revolution.

On October 25, 2023, Michigan’s new mobility innovation district, Michigan Central, and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) announced the launch of Detroit’s Advanced Aerial Innovation Region. As explained in an MDOT press release, this would be “an initiative that will position the state as a leader in next-generation aerial mobility and drone technology by attracting startups, catalyzing new high-skill jobs, advancing policy, and driving commercialization and adoption of drone technology.” Experts believe that the commercial drone industry will reach a value of $50 billion in just a few short years, creating more than 100,000 new job opportunities.

Eager to capitalize on this opportunity, both entrepreneurs and government officials hope to see Detroit become a different kind of Motor City, one where mobility extends from the ground skyward. Michigan Democrats proposed a $7.5 million budget to assist in the development of the Advanced Aerial Innovation program. State Rep. Ranjeev Puri (D-Canton Township) is one of the representatives pushing for this budget. “We’re talking about statewide infrastructure that starts allowing us to utap the potential of air mobility,” he said. “Investments like this can help set us apart from our peer states; the hope is we establish ourselves as a leader in this space.”

Last year, the state approved a $17 million budget for the MDOT. Its Office of Aeronautics then partnered with Detroit-based drone startup Airspace Link to build the framework for the Advanced Aerial Innovation program. Founded in 2018 by the husband-and-wife team of Michael and Ana Healander and their partner Daniel Bradshaw, Airspace Link is an industry leader in providing logistical unmanned aerial mobility services. As explained on the company website, “What started as an idea was brought to life as the three co-founders put their heads together to create Airspace Link’s AirHub Platform: a low-altitude digital infrastructure designed to support the safe scaling of drones.”

Airspace Link’s platform integrates the key programs developed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other drone experts to enable safe drone operations in shared airspace. The first aspect is the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC), which integrates drones into airspace by providing information on where drones can and cannot fly within the 400 ft limit airspace. LAANC also notifies air traffic personnel of the positioning of airborne drones. The second component is the B4UFLY app, a program that any recreational drone pilot can use while flying a drone. The app provides users with real-time information about allowed drone use and flight paths.

Airspace Link is one of only four companies authorized by the FAA to provide B4UFLY services. Working closely with the MDOT and Michigan Central, Airspace Link plans to have the Advanced Aerial Innovation program fully integrated by the end of the year. In the 2023 press release, the MDOT states that the Advanced Aerial Innovation Region will encompass “a 3-mile radius around Michigan Central. The two-year project will provide open, shared infrastructure and services that enable commercial drone development while ensuring safety in the air and on the ground. Participating drone operators will have access to concept and operational support. The initiative will propel solutions focused on addressing accessibility, safety, tech equity, and regulatory challenges by testing potential commercial drone uses ranging from delivery of medical supplies, consumer goods, and manufacturing materials to infrastructure inspection.”

Detroit’s embrace of the Advanced Aerial Innovation Region marks a pivotal moment in its history, reminiscent of its automotive heyday. With substantial investments and partnerships with pioneering companies like Airspace Link, the city is poised to lead in the burgeoning field of commercial drone technology. As Detroit rebuilds its legacy, this initiative promises not only economic growth and job creation but also innovative solutions to societal challenges. By leveraging its expertise and infrastructure, Detroit is set to redefine itself once again, this time as a hub of aerial mobility and technological innovation in the 21st century.

Previous Drone News: