West Bay Aerial Mobility Showcase
Advanced aerial technologies took center stage yesterday as multiple industry leaders gathered for a groundbreaking demonstration over West Grand Traverse Bay. The event showcased cutting-edge drone capabilities focused on public safety applications, environmental monitoring, and precision geospatial data collection.
In one of the day’s highlights, blueflite® successfully executed a simulated search and rescue operation in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard, demonstrating their drone’s advanced water collection capabilities. The glass-calm conditions provided an ideal testing environment for these next-generation uncrewed aerial systems (UAS).
The demonstration was organized by Traverse Connect and made possible through the Advanced Aerial Mobility Activation (AAM) Fund, a collaborative initiative between the Michigan Department of Transportation, the MI Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Additional support came from Newlab.
Key participants in the event included Northwestern Michigan College, AirMatrix, Frontier Precision Unmanned, and Hybrid Robotics, all contributing to showcase Michigan’s growing leadership in the drone technology sector.
This successful demonstration represents another milestone in the state’s ongoing efforts to build a comprehensive ecosystem for advanced aerial mobility solutions, with real-world applications that promise to transform emergency response, environmental monitoring, and more.