At XPONENTIAL 2026 this week, leaders from University of Michigan outlined an ambitious vision for the future of drones and advanced air mobility (AAM): one where Michigan becomes a central hub for the emerging low altitude economy by combining aerospace innovation with Detroit’s industrial manufacturing strength.
DRONELIFE had the opportunity for a meaningful discussion with Greg McGuire, Managing Director of M Air, and Venkat Viswanathan, an associate professor at the University of Michigan: one that started with M Air but brought a new perspective on the future of the AAM ecosystem in the US.
M Air is a public-private partnership launched through the University of Michigan. The initiative focuses on autonomous aviation, connected transportation systems, and advanced air mobility technologies. According to McGuire, the program serves several purposes at once: supporting pre-competitive research, providing real-world testing infrastructure, and training the next generation of engineers and entrepreneurs.
The organization also operates a 30-acre test environment located minutes from the university’s aerospace department. The site includes simulated urban infrastructure, highways, school districts, and digital twins designed to accelerate testing and validation for drones and autonomous systems.
Michigan’s State-Level Push Into AAM
M Air is part of a larger statewide strategy backed by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer to position the state as a national center for advanced air mobility and drone manufacturing.
The initiative received early support through Michigan’s Advanced Air Mobility Activation Fund, backed by the state’s Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME), the Michigan Department of Transportation, and the Michigan Aeronautics Commission. That funding helped support projects such as the installation of electric aircraft charging infrastructure by BETA Technologies at airports across Michigan.
In 2025, Governor Whitmer expanded the effort through the Michigan Advanced Air Mobility Initiative, a statewide program designed to accelerate drone deployment, strengthen domestic supply chains, and connect Michigan’s automotive and aerospace sectors.
As part of that initiative, the state awarded funding to the University of Michigan to help expand M Air as an extension of the university’s successful Mcity autonomous vehicle program. The investment supports testbeds for drones and AAM systems, workforce development, startup incubation, and proposed air mobility corridors tied to Michigan Central’s Advanced Aerial Innovation Region.
The strategy reflects a broader belief within Michigan leadership that the future of aviation may depend on many of the same industrial capabilities that built the state’s automotive economy.
That theme surfaced repeatedly throughout the discussion.
Why Michigan Sees Opportunity in Drones and AAM
Viswanathan argued that aerospace is entering what he described as a “second century of aeronautics,” driven by systems that are autonomous, electric, and connected.
Historically, aerospace manufacturing operated at relatively small production volumes. Aircraft were expensive, specialized systems built in limited numbers. Drones and electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft are changing that equation.
“The scale is vastly different,” Viswanathan explained.
That shift, he said, makes aerospace begin to resemble the automotive industry more than traditional aviation.
The overlap is becoming increasingly visible across the technology stack. Batteries, electric motors, power electronics, and inverters are all foundational technologies for both electric vehicles and advanced aircraft. Michigan already has deep expertise and manufacturing capacity in those areas thanks to decades of automotive investment.
“This has not been the case historically,” Viswanathan said. “But what you are now seeing is a convergence.”
The interview repeatedly returned to the idea that the drone ecosystem may depend less on traditional aerospace manufacturing methods and more on the ability to produce reliable systems at automotive scale.
Viswanathan pointed to the growing demand for large fleets of drones, particularly in defense and industrial applications.
“With drone dominance being 300,000 drones, you cannot inspect, inspect, inspect,” he said, contrasting modern drone production needs with traditional aerospace quality assurance processes. “Who has figured out how to deliver tens of millions of reliable parts per year? Detroit.”
Building the “AAM Stack”
The conversation also highlighted how closely the emerging AAM ecosystem mirrors existing automotive infrastructure and supply chains.
Nearly half the mass of many drones comes from batteries alone, according to Viswanathan. That creates a direct connection to Michigan’s growing electric vehicle investments.
The speakers referenced major state investments in electrification, including funding for battery and EV research facilities. M Air itself includes battery laboratories capable of developing and testing battery cells directly in flight systems.
The implication is significant for the drone industry.
Rather than building an entirely separate aerospace ecosystem from scratch, Michigan believes drones and AAM can leverage existing automotive capabilities across manufacturing, electrification, supply chain management, and large-scale production engineering.
McGuire also emphasized that professional drone systems should not be viewed through the same lens as consumer electronics or hobbyist products.
“When we look at the professional drones, it’s a whole different safety issue,” he said. “Drones are a smaller version of robust autonomous aircraft,” Viswanathan added.
That perspective shapes M Air’s broader mission. The organization aims to validate real-world drone applications ranging from medical delivery and agriculture to communications infrastructure and public safety operations.
McGuire described the initiative as focused on “the serious use of drones that have the potential to change lives.”
For Michigan, the strategy appears to be about more than attracting aerospace startups. It is about positioning the state’s manufacturing ecosystem to play a central role in scaling the next generation of autonomous aviation systems.
Read more:
- Michigan Pushes Sweeping Drone Legislation Package Through State Legislature
- Michigan Announces $40 Million in AAM Funding in New Report
- Michigan Launches First-Ever Uncrewed Triple Challenge
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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