This week, in the wake of an announcement about a first-of-its-kind cross-border initiative to test the feasibility of commercial drone use, Bryan Budds, deputy administrator of the Michigan Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) Office of Aeronautics, explains the project. 

Wednesday, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced that Michigan and Ontario are collaborating on a technology initiative involving unmanned aerial systems (UAS), more commonly known as drones. This effort involves studying the feasibility of a commercial drone skyway in three proposed areas, including an international connection between Michigan and Ontario, southeast Michigan, and any other suitable location in the state. 

The effort is a partnership between MDOT, Michigan’s Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, and Ontario government agencies. 

Calling it a “highway in the sky,” Budds talks about myriad opportunities to explore the future of drone technology and what it could mean to commerce and the delivery of goods. He also discusses the challenging questions facing regulators as they work to balance privacy, security, safety, and innovation. 

Budds also talks about how this initiative follows on other cross-border collaboration between the governments of Michigan and Ontario for demonstrations involving automated vehicles. 

Other relevant links: 

http://www.ontario.ca/page/connecting-southwest-draft-transportation-plan-southwestern-ontario

https://www.faa.gov/uas/
 
https://www.theregreview.org/2021/10/23/saturday-seminar-regulating-domestic-drone-use

Podcast image is NASA's new concept image for Advanced Air Mobility. Image courtesy of NASA and can be found at https://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/multimedia/imagegallery/advanced-air-mobility/new-concept-image.html.