DETROIT – Michigan Central is emerging as a key ecosystem for drone companies and operators, advancing urban drone technology and applications.
Matthew Whitaker, director of the mobility innovation platform at Michigan Central, said the site and its partners are helping startups build scalable drone businesses in a real-world urban environment.
“We’ve started the Advanced Aerial Innovation Region, we call it AIR, a partnership with the state of Michigan, MDOT’s Office of Aeronautics, New Lab, and Airspace Link, one of the startups here, to bring drone companies to fly beyond visual line of sight and build real scalable businesses in a real-world urban environment,” Whitaker said.
AIR supports drone companies flying beyond visual line of sight under special FAA waivers.
These waivers allow operators to fly drones remotely without physically seeing them, using advanced systems to ensure safety.
“Typically, a pilot has to be part 107 certified to operate drones for photography or media. What we’re able to do with AIR is provide startups additional capabilities to fly beyond visual line of sight,” Whitaker said. “They can see where other drones and crewed aircraft are in the sky. We describe to the FAA how we keep flights as safe or safer than if someone had their eyes on the drone, and the FAA provides specific waivers.”
Whitaker added that every operation today requires a waiver.
“We have six waivers for startups in this ecosystem,” Whitaker said. “New regulations coming early next year will move from waivers to a by-rule system, so anyone following guidelines can fly beyond visual line of sight without a specific waiver.”
Urban drone inspections and city partnerships
Detroit’s city government is a major partner in drone-based infrastructure inspection.
Lamarr.AI, a startup based in Syracuse, New York, uses drones to scan and detect energy-efficiency issues in city-owned buildings, helping officials make targeted decisions about spending taxpayer dollars.
Lamarr.AI CEO Tarek Rakha described their drone inspections as faster, safer, and more accurate than traditional methods.
“Typically, building inspections take months or years. We can do it in days,” Rakha said, highlighting the use of AI to analyze data and provide actionable insights.
Rakha explained that drone missions can be automated or remotely controlled from anywhere.
“The innovation is you can do these missions anywhere. The pioneering work is happening in Detroit,” Rakha said.
Rakha said inspections can take a couple of hours, depending on building size, and use regular imaging during the day and thermal imaging at night.
“The AI sifts through data so you focus on solving problems rather than identifying them,” Rakha said.
Rakha emphasized that technology augments jobs rather than replacing them.
“Instead of people scaling buildings or using scaffolding, drones do it safer, faster, and more comprehensively,” Rakha said.
Fly Guys provides drone pilots for Lamarr.AI’s operations.
Julia Guerra, a solutions architect at Fly Guys, said safety protocols include FAA regulations, preflight checklists, and risk assessments.
“The whole point of flying is to reduce risk. You don’t need to tie off or climb ladders,” she said. “You fly, take pictures, and go home safely.”
Guerra explained that pilots are responsible for safe operation and follow strict rules.
“You don’t fly over mass crowds without a waiver. The ceiling for flights is about 400 feet. Drones can technically fly two to eight miles away, depending on conditions.”
City’s innovation zone supports drone startups
Konner Petz, head of special projects at Detroit’s Office of Mobility and Innovation, explained how the city adopted a special city ordinance to permit drone startups while creating the Transportation Innovation Zone.
The area allows innovators to operate with fewer regulatory hurdles while maintaining safety.
“We want to make things simple so these technologies can thrive and grow,” Petz said. “All permits go through me and then to broader city stakeholders who review safety protocols and risk assessments.”
Petz said the city chose large buildings like the Detroit Police Department’s 4th Precinct for drone inspections because they are harder to assess traditionally.
“This technology picks up the smallest details like water intrusion, cracks, and insulation issues. We can pinpoint problems and solve them cost-effectively,” said Petz.
The projects in the innovation zone are funded privately or through federal grants, not by taxpayers.
“Detroit is a hub for advanced aerial mobility innovation and all things related to mobility and technology,” he said.
Future of drones in Detroit
Whitaker envisions Detroit becoming a national center for drone development, including manufacturing, operations, and training.
He said the city can build on its automotive industry legacy to lead in advanced mobility ecosystems.
Not only are there projects for building inspections, but there’s also discussion of moving goods, including medical deliveries, perhaps even organ transport.
“Motor City is definitely flying and moving in many different ways in the future,” Petz said. “Lots of projects are coming down the pipeline.”