Michigan Allocates $2 Million to Support Five Advanced Air Mobility Initiatives
Michigan Selects Companies for Advanced Air Mobility Projects
Michigan has chosen five companies to participate in advanced air mobility (AAM) projects aimed at addressing practical challenges faced by state agencies. The announcement was made by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity’s Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME) on August 11, with a total funding of $2 million allocated through the Michigan Mobility Funding Platform’s AAM Statewide Mobility Challenges.
Project Overview
NextEnergy is responsible for administering the program, which pairs technology companies with various Michigan state departments. The selected projects will focus on a range of applications, including:
- Environmental monitoring
- Wildfire response
- Transportation infrastructure
- Drone detection
- Pesticide investigations
Justine Johnson, Michigan’s Chief Mobility Officer, emphasized the importance of integrating new technologies into everyday operations, stating that these projects will allow state departments to evaluate AAM technologies in real-world settings while enabling companies to demonstrate and refine their solutions.
Collaborations with State Agencies
The five selected projects involve collaborations with various state agencies:
1. Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
This department will partner with Kohtari, which will utilize aerial sensing for real-time monitoring of air and water quality, as well as support environmental incident response and data collection.
2. Michigan Department of Natural Resources
The department will collaborate with Orb Aerospace, which plans to deploy vertical takeoff and landing drone technology for aerial mapping and wildfire monitoring, contributing to broader natural resource management efforts.
3. Michigan Department of Transportation
Westwood AI will work with the Michigan Department of Transportation to develop a road intelligence platform that integrates data from drones and vehicles, aiming to enhance roadway assessments and transportation system management.
4. Michigan State Police
Motorola Solutions will assist the Michigan State Police in developing drone detection technology to bolster public safety and security at major events, as well as protect critical infrastructure.
5. Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
AVOL will partner with this department to modernize pesticide drift investigations using aerial technology, which will aid in collecting hazardous samples and detecting pesticide residues.
Advancing AAM in Michigan
The recent awards are part of a comprehensive strategy by Michigan to develop infrastructure and practical applications for drones and advanced air mobility. The state initiated its Advanced Air Mobility Initiative in July 2025, aiming to support the testing, production, and deployment of emerging aviation technologies.
Michigan has already invested in various projects to build this ecosystem, including M-Air, a University of Michigan initiative that received $1 million from an earlier funding round. M-Air seeks to expand the university’s public-private research model into the realm of drones and AAM.
Future plans include establishing a drone corridor connecting the University of Michigan with the Advanced Aerial Innovation Region in Detroit, featuring a digital twin and live air traffic integration to support multiple drone applications.
While previous state-backed projects have focused on enabling infrastructure, the Statewide Mobility Challenges aim to integrate technology directly into government operations. The pilots will allow state agencies to assess AAM systems in real-world conditions, while companies can refine their technologies to meet public-sector needs, ultimately advancing the routine use of drones and AAM technologies in Michigan.