Two local organizations have partnered to launch a digital drone infrastructure in the metro Detroit skies. Drones could one day offer sustainable delivery of food, medical supplies, and more.
Airspace Link Inc., a cloud-based platform in Detroit and a provider of state and local government drone flight authorization and management solutions, partnered with the Detroit Region Aerotropolis, a two-county public-private economic development partnership driving corporate expansion and new investment around Detroit Metro and Willow Run Airports, to launch the infrastructure.
The partnership will help establish how and where drones can and will operate in the included communities and create opportunities for drone pilots and businesses.
“Digital infrastructure facilitates a data exchange with participating communities who share relevant information about areas of hazard and risk including high population densities, locations of schools, prisons, hospitals, and sports stadiums,” says Lisa Peterson, vice president of business development for Airspace Link. “Our work with Detroit Aerotropolis will allow all drone operators to instantly have greater situational awareness and can plan safer flight operations through our software platform.”
The Michigan Economic Development Corp., PlanetM, and Michigan Unmanned Aerial Systems Consortium are involved in the project and funded part of the deployment.
“Our partnership with Airspace Link sends a strong message to inventors, investors, and innovators to come to Aerotropolis to fly these new highways in the sky,” says Christopher Girdwood, executive director of the aerotropolis.
The aerotropolis recently deployed the Airspace Link low altitude drone digital infrastructure technology to its local communities and airports to support the safe use of recreational and commercial drone use in the region.
A growing number of public safety organizations are using drones for emergency operations, and the aerotropolis will provide the highway for drones to fly safely for first response situations.
The Detroit Region Aerotropolis Development Corp. offers 6,000 acres of development-ready land centered in a network of transportation infrastructure.
For more information on the future of air travel, check out “Preparing for Takeoff” from the July/August 2020 issue of DBusiness magazine.
