In July, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order to establish the state’s Advanced Air Mobility Initiative and boost its ambitions in the drone industry, especially in preparing its workforce, manufacturing and infrastructure capabilities.
And Detroit, which for generations has led the way in the United States’ automotive industry, is looking to build on that legacy with drone manufacturing as well as experiment with various use cases.
As if to demonstrate what is possible, the city and state last month collaborated with urban drone network company Aerialoop to pilot a drone logistics program, which kicked off by delivering doughnuts to construction workers on the city’s riverfront from Michigan Central, the former train station that now is home to almost 250 companies and startups. It’s the latest chapter in Detroit’s revival, 12 years on from its filing for bankruptcy, led by emerging drone technology hand-in-hand with its automotive past…