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 … [Read more...] about Michigan’s Bet on the Low Altitude Economy: How M Air Connects Aerospace Innovation and Detroit Manufacturing
Autonomous Aviation
CVS, SkyfireAI, and Thales Outline Drone-Based Healthcare Response Network at XPONENTIAL 2026
Panel highlights healthcare logistics, emergency response, and disaster resilience as key drone use cases At the XPONENTIAL 2026 conference in Detroit this week, CVS Health publicly shared new details about “CVS Air Response,” an emerging drone-enabled healthcare logistics and emergency response network being developed with SkyfireAI and Thales Aerospace. The discussion … [Read more...] about CVS, SkyfireAI, and Thales Outline Drone-Based Healthcare Response Network at XPONENTIAL 2026
UK Government Backs Drone Expansion with £50 Million Investment
Windracers among companies recognized as UK moves to scale routine drone operations and advanced air mobility The UK government has announced nearly £50 million in funding to support drone operations and advanced air mobility, highlighting a growing push to move autonomous aviation into routine use across the country. The funding package, published by the UK Department for … [Read more...] about UK Government Backs Drone Expansion with £50 Million Investment
Unifly Expands European Drone Consulting with New Acquisition
Unifly acquires EuroUSC-Benelux to expand drone regulatory and compliance consulting across Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and France. Unifly, a global leader in UAS Traffic Management (UTM) solutions, has acquired EuroUSC-Benelux, a consultancy specializing in drone regulation, safety, and operational compliance. The deal expands Unifly Consulting's presence across … [Read more...] about Unifly Expands European Drone Consulting with New Acquisition
From Drones to Helicopters: Robinson, Ascent Build a Scalable Autonomous Rotorcraft Ecosystem
In an exclusive interview with Ascent AeroSystems CEO Paul Fermo: how Robinson and Ascent aim to scale autonomy from small drones to full-size helicopters The rotorcraft industry is entering a new phase as established helicopter manufacturers move deeper into autonomous aviation. A recent announcement revealed a collaboration between Sikorsky and Robinson Helicopter Company to … [Read more...] about From Drones to Helicopters: Robinson, Ascent Build a Scalable Autonomous Rotorcraft Ecosystem
