Resilienx And Grandsky Join Forces To Revolutionize Airspace Integration With Cutting-Edge Unmanned Aircraft Systems
In a significant collaboration, ResilienX has entered into a subcontract agreement with GrandSKY to …
16. July 2026
Michigan Drones Leap Forward With Groundbreaking Airspace System
The Chippewa County Drone Project: A Milestone in Advanced Air Mobility
In a significant achievement, the Chippewa County Drone Project has successfully demonstrated the use of advanced digital airspace infrastructure for commercial and public safety operations. The project, which was funded through Michigan’s Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME) and the Michigan Mobility Funding Platform, aimed to establish the Upper Peninsula of Michigan as a regional center for advanced drone operations.
The project brought together a coalition of industry, utility, aviation, research, and technology partners to showcase real-world commercial and public sector drone applications. ANRA Technologies provided the FAA-approved Uncrewed Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) platform and Single Integrated Operational Picture (SIOP) for airspace coordination and situational awareness. Censys Technologies conducted infrastructure inspection flights, while Michigan Tech Research Institute (MTRI) supported aerial inspections of the Tower of History and railroad research.
Cloverland Electric Cooperative enabled utility inspection demonstrations at its St. Marys Falls Hydropower Plant, showcasing how advanced airspace coordination can improve operational efficiency while maintaining safety around critical infrastructure. Lighthouse Avionics and Guardian RF deployed complementary optical and radio frequency detection technologies at both the Kinross Correctional Facility and the hydropower site, demonstrating how cooperative and non-cooperative aircraft can be monitored within a shared operational picture.
The project established a new model for advanced drone operations by integrating UTM and Counter-Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) situational awareness to support commercial missions along an international border. Demonstration flights were conducted adjacent to the drone no-fly zone protecting the Soo Locks, showing how a shared digital airspace can coordinate authorized operations while providing real-time awareness of unauthorized or unknown aircraft.
The successful completion of the project provides a foundation for expanding FAA-approved digital airspace services throughout Michigan, demonstrating how strategic public-private partnerships can accelerate the adoption of advanced mobility technologies and attract additional private-sector investment. Chippewa County is well-positioned to serve as a regional hub for innovation, testing, and commercial drone operations.
“Amit Ganjoo, Founder and CEO of ANRA Technologies, noted that ‘This project demonstrated how digital airspace infrastructure can safely support advanced drone operations in a complex operational environment.’ Successfully deploying ANRA’s interoperable digital services for UTM and integrated airspace awareness with our partners is yet another illustration of how we prevent vendor lock-in by enabling all commercial operations while enhancing security around critical infrastructure.”
“Chris Olson, President of the Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation, stated that ‘This initiative demonstrates that Chippewa County has the partnerships, infrastructure, and vision to become a regional leader in advanced drone operations.’ This project moved beyond research to demonstrate commercially viable drone operations in a real-world environment. By bringing together technology innovators, infrastructure operators, public agencies, and private industry, we’ve created a foundation for future investment, new business opportunities, workforce development, and long-term economic growth across the region.”
The successful demonstration establishes a commercially proven foundation for expanding advanced drone operations throughout the region, creating opportunities to attract investment, support high-skilled jobs, enable new commercial services, strengthen public safety capabilities, and accelerate Michigan’s advanced air mobility ecosystem.
“Michigan’s Chief Mobility Officer, Justine Johnson, highlighted the partnership between government, industry, academia, and technology providers as ’the key to accelerating advanced air mobility deployment while reinforcing Michigan’s leadership in developing and testing these technologies.’”
The Chippewa County Drone Project is an important milestone in the development of advanced air mobility technologies. By demonstrating the use of digital airspace infrastructure for commercial and public safety operations, the project showcases the potential of these technologies to support critical infrastructure, strengthen public safety, and solve real-world challenges.
The project’s success can be attributed to the strong partnership between government, industry, academia, and technology providers. The collaboration demonstrated how collaborative planning accelerates the deployment of advanced drone technologies, and the participation of volunteer industry partners who contributed time, expertise, equipment, and facilities without direct funding reinforced industry confidence in Chippewa County as an emerging hub for advanced drone operations.
As the demand for advanced air mobility solutions continues to grow, the Chippewa County Drone Project serves as a model for how digital airspace infrastructure can be successfully implemented in rural and near-border environments. The project’s success demonstrates the potential of public-private partnerships to accelerate the adoption of advanced mobility technologies and create opportunities for economic growth and development.
In conclusion, the successful completion of the Chippewa County Drone Project is a significant achievement that demonstrates the potential of advanced air mobility technologies to support critical infrastructure, strengthen public safety, and solve real-world challenges. The project’s success serves as a model for how digital airspace infrastructure can be successfully implemented in rural and near-border environments, providing a foundation for expanding FAA-approved digital airspace services throughout Michigan.
This collaboration between government, industry, academia, and technology providers has demonstrated the potential of advanced air mobility technologies to support critical infrastructure, strengthen public safety, and solve real-world challenges. By working together, these partners have created a model for how digital airspace infrastructure can be successfully implemented in rural and near-border environments, providing a foundation for expanding FAA-approved digital airspace services throughout Michigan.
The successful completion of the Chippewa County Drone Project is an important milestone in the development of advanced air mobility technologies. By demonstrating the use of digital airspace infrastructure for commercial and public safety operations, the project showcases the potential of these technologies to support critical infrastructure, strengthen public safety, and solve real-world challenges.
As the demand for advanced air mobility solutions continues to grow, it is essential that we continue to invest in research and development, partnership-building, and public-private collaboration to accelerate the adoption of these technologies. The Chippewa County Drone Project serves as a model for how digital airspace infrastructure can be successfully implemented, providing a foundation for expanding FAA-approved digital airspace services throughout Michigan.
By prioritizing collaboration, innovation, and investment in research and development, we can unlock the full potential of advanced air mobility solutions and create a more efficient, sustainable, and connected transportation system for the future. The Chippewa County Drone Project serves as a model for how digital airspace infrastructure can be successfully implemented, providing a foundation for expanding FAA-approved digital airspace services throughout Michigan.
The project’s success demonstrates the potential of advanced air mobility technologies to support critical infrastructure, strengthen public safety, and solve real-world challenges. As we move forward in the development and deployment of these technologies, it is essential that we continue to prioritize collaboration, innovation, and investment in research and development.
By working together, we can unlock the full potential of advanced air mobility solutions and create a more efficient, sustainable, and connected transportation system for the future