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
XPONENTIAL 2026
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
Drone Dominance: The Defense Department’s Push to Build a Scalable U.S. Drone Supply Chain
At this morning’s keynote roundtable at XPONENTIAL 2026, government and industry leaders outlined a new phase in the effort to scale the U.S. drone industry: moving from innovation and prototype development to industrial production, supply chain scrutiny, and rapid military acquisition. Moderated by Michael Robbins of AUVSI, the panel focused on the Department of Defense’s … [Read more...] about Drone Dominance: The Defense Department’s Push to Build a Scalable U.S. Drone Supply Chain
From The Floor of XPONENTIAL: AIRO and Jaunt Reveal Dual-Use VTOL Aircraft for Defense and Cargo Missions
Jaunt Air Mobility's autonomous slowed-rotor platform targets defense ISR, cargo logistics, and remote operations in two mission variants. AIRO Group Holdings has publicly unveiled its full-scale autonomous VTOL aircraft at AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2026 in Detroit. The Nasdaq-listed aerospace and defense company announced the reveal on May 12, 2026. The aircraft comes from AIRO's … [Read more...] about From The Floor of XPONENTIAL: AIRO and Jaunt Reveal Dual-Use VTOL Aircraft for Defense and Cargo Missions
At XPONENTIAL 2026, AUVSI Signals a New Phase for the Drone Industry
AUVSI’s XPONENTIAL 2026 Message: The Drone Industry Moves From Innovation to Integration At XPONENTIAL 2026 in Detroit this week, President Michael Robbins delivered a keynote that reflected a broader shift taking place across the drone and autonomy industry. Rather than focusing primarily on emerging technology and experimentation, Robbins emphasized manufacturing, … [Read more...] about At XPONENTIAL 2026, AUVSI Signals a New Phase for the Drone Industry











