Groundbreaking competition tests autonomous drones across air, land, and water
Michigan Debuts Landmark Autonomous Drone Event
Governor Gretchen Whitmer officially launched the Uncrewed Triple Challenge (UTC) May 20, a state-sponsored competition pushing the boundaries of autonomous drone capabilities. The event, which tests drones on land, in the air, and over water, is a first-of-its-kind competition designed to cement Michigan’s role as a leader in uncrewed systems and advanced mobility.
“This unique challenge, the first of its kind, puts Michigan on the cutting-edge of mobility and cements our reputation as a state that knows how to bring people together to get things done,” said Governor Whitmer.
Held at the National All-Domain Warfighting Center (NADWC) in Northern Michigan, the UTC is a collaborative effort involving the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), and the Michigan National Guard (MING).
Three-Part Test for Next-Gen Drone Systems
The competition featured a rigorous three-part course:
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A maritime leg from Alpena harbor to a point 5 nautical miles into Thunder Bay
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A 58.5-mile airborne flight to Camp Grayling
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A 23.5-mile ground route through rugged terrain to Camp Grayling’s Parade Field
All segments had to be completed autonomously, with no human intervention. Teams from seven U.S. states and two countries are competing. Participants include T3MP3ST, Mythos AI, North American Robotics, Optimotive, SiFly, Dataspeed, Swarmbotics AI, Flying Ship Company, and Snowbotix.
Teams competed for four awards: Best in Maritime, Best in Air, Best on Land, and Best at Payload Transfer.
Collaboration Across Public and Private Sectors
Quentin L. Messer, Jr., CEO of the MEDC, emphasized the importance of cross-sector cooperation. “The UTC showcases the Team Michigan collaboration among our public sector, defense industry, and tech entrepreneurs to drive real-world innovation and job creation,” he said.
Maj. Gen. Paul D. Rogers, director of the Michigan DMVA, highlighted the state’s defense legacy and future. “The UTC showcases the innovative spirit driving Michigan’s defense and manufacturing sectors and highlights how emerging drone technologies can support a wide range of missions, including delivering medicine and critical equipment to military personnel.”
Building a Mobility Innovation Hub
State Transportation Director Bradley C. Wieferich noted Michigan’s infrastructure advantage: “Michigan already has a robust network of aviation infrastructure, and capitalizing on that system makes the day when shipping critical products via AAM becomes a routine practice closer than ever.”
The UTC builds on Michigan’s existing strengths:
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Nearly 4,000 companies in the state are engaged in defense and aerospace work.
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Michigan leads the U.S. in concentration of electrical and mechanical engineers.
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The University of Michigan ranks #4 for graduate aerospace engineering programs.
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The state ranks among the top 10 for aerospace manufacturing attractiveness.
In addition, Michigan is home to major defense contractors such as General Dynamics, BAE Systems, and GM Defense.
A Path Forward for Autonomous Systems
With the UTC, Michigan reinforces its competitive edge in aerial mobility and autonomous systems. The state aims to use the challenge as a platform to attract new business, boost investment, and create high-tech jobs.
Governor Whitmer summed up the vision: “We’re showing the world that Michigan isn’t just ready for the future—we’re building it.”
And now… the winners
The following competition participants received awards:
Best in Maritime: Mythos AI ($15,000)
Best in Air: Sifly ($15,000)
Best on Land: Dataspeed ($15,000)
Best at Payload Transfer: Sifly to Mythos AI to Dataspeed ($5,000)
Best Overall Team: Sifly, Mythos AI, Dataspeed ($30,000)
About MEDC
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) is the state’s lead agency for business development and job growth. For more information, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org.
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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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