The Detroit Region Aerotropolis Development Corp. is a public-private economic development partnership with the Wayne County Airport Authority. Looking through an environmental and ecological lens, the organization aims to build out the manufacturing, logistics, and mobility sectors in the airport region of Southeast Michigan to attract investment and improve transportation efficiencies. One of its key areas of focus is exploring sustainable freight solutions, including the use of drones to transport lightweight cargo, reducing emissions, road congestion, and overall wear on transportation networks.
SBN Detroit spoke with Christopher Girdwood, CEO of Detroit Region Aerotropolis, to discuss how drone technology is reshaping logistics, the environmental and economic impact of freight inefficiencies, and the future of cargo transport in Southeast Michigan.
Q: How is the Detroit Region Aerotropolis set up and funded?
A: Detroit Region Aerotropolis is part of a Next Michigan Development Corp. (NMDC), a legislative framework established around 2010 following the Great Recession. The goal was to stimulate economic growth by leveraging key regional assets, such as Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) and Willow Run Airport. Similar NMDCs exist across Michigan, including Traverse City for wine and tourism and Midland for Canadian cross-border trade. In total, there are seven in the state.
We are funded through contributions from the Wayne County Airport Authority, Wayne County, Washtenaw County, Taylor, Romulus, Van Buren, and Huron, along with private partners like DTE and national developers. The overarching concept of NMDCs is to harness regional strengths—in our case, the airport region and aerotropolis—to drive economic engines and create new opportunities locally, nationally, and even globally.
Q: A main focus of the Detroit Region Aerotropolis is the utilization of drones to transport lightweight cargo. Is this a fully operational initiative, or is it still in a developmental phase?
A: Right now, we are still in the developmental phase. About five years ago, we engaged Airspace Link, a Detroit-based company, to explore alternative solutions to road expansion, which can be very costly.
In fact, building a new mile of road can cost around $1 million, so extrapolating from there, to expand Ecorse Road between I-75 and I-94 could run between $40 million and $50 million. Instead of building new roads, we started asking whether low-altitude airspace could be used to transport freight more efficiently.
In 2021, we conducted a drone demonstration for stakeholders in Taylor, showing how drones could be used for transporting time-sensitive medical supplies like COVID tests. By 2023, we partnered with Automation Alley, Airspace Link, and the State of Michigan to run another pilot involving the movement of Project Diamond’s 3D-printed parts.
The core question is, why transport a five-pound part on a two-ton truck when a drone can deliver it faster and more sustainably?
Looking forward, we’re launching a pilot program – again in partnership with Airspace Link – that will consider Michigan’s extensive railway network for use as a corridor for drone flights. Since rail corridors are underutilized, they could serve as safe, dedicated pathways for just-in-time delivery solutions.
Q: From an environmental standpoint, what are the biggest inefficiencies in the current freight and logistics system that drones could help solve?
A: One of the biggest inefficiencies we see is the mismatch between cargo size and transport vehicle. It’s the two-ton truck scenario I mentioned. Trucks often run at low capacity in terms of cargo. They consume fuel, contribute to congestion, and increase emissions.
By adopting a model where the size and weight of transported goods are better matched with the vehicle, we can significantly reduce unnecessary truck traffic. Low-altitude airspace offers a solution to move cargo without adding more trucks to the roads.
We’ve been analyzing similar drone freight models in Dallas, Virginia, and North Dakota, which have used battery-powered drones to optimize freight movement and reduce carbon footprints. Our goal is to bring those sustainability benefits to Southeast Michigan.
Q: What are the key challenges when it comes to widespread drone adoption for cargo movement in Southeast Michigan?
A: One of the biggest challenges is community acceptance. We want to ensure that drones operate in designated corridors, avoiding residential areas and sensitive infrastructure. Over-communicating with communities and local governments will be key to gaining public support.
Another challenge is regulatory approval. Romulus is currently working on an ordinance to allow drone operations, and we hope that other municipalities will follow their lead. Being a first-mover in this space often attracts industry investment, so communities that take the lead in enabling drone logistics will likely see new businesses and jobs emerge in their regions.
Q: Are there specific industries or types of cargo where drones could make an immediate impact?
A: The State of Michigan has asked us this same question.
An example is 3D printing and advanced manufacturing. Getting designs from production to final assembly is critical. The traditional transit method involves a delivery truck – a process that could be made far more efficient with drone delivery.
Similarly, in the HVAC industry, skilled tradespeople often need custom-cut sheet metal at their job sites. Instead of driving to pick it up, a drone could deliver the materials directly, eliminating travel time and allowing for more installations in a day.
Another promising sector is medical logistics, where time-sensitive deliveries of medical equipment and devices are already gaining traction.
Unlike consumer drone delivery models like Amazon’s, which focus on residential shipments, we are prioritizing and leaning into our industrial heritage in Southeast Michigan. Our focus is on using drone freight to support Michigan’s manufacturing sector by moving goods between Tier 2 and Tier 3 suppliers and final assembly plants – ideally utilizing railway corridors as designated drone flight paths.
Q: Are there cost savings for businesses, or is this more about sustainability and reducing environmental impact?
A: It’s a combination of both. From a cost perspective, companies are already exploring drone freight as an alternative to traditional trucking.
Additionally, every new truck on the road contributes to traffic congestion and the need for expanded infrastructure. If drones can help prevent the need for future road widening projects, that represents a major cost-saving opportunity at a regional level.
Q: Could this become a mainstream logistics solution in Michigan?
A: I believe so. That’s why we’re focusing on leveraging our existing railway network. Rail corridors are underutilized, but they provide a stable, controlled environment where drones can operate safely at low altitudes of 300 to 400 feet. We can even create stackable lanes in the sky for freight movement.
Right now, we’re working to refine demand models, analyze cost structures, and optimize the environmental impact. If we get this right, drone freight could become a core component of Michigan’s advanced logistics infrastructure.
Q: Looking ahead, what will it take to accelerate drone freight operations in Southeast Michigan?
A: It will take municipalities, counties and the state government coming together to help build out the infrastructure. It will take a robust mesh network to track drone flights similarly to commercial airplanes. Since the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) controls U.S. airspace, we also need close collaboration to ensure regulatory alignment. Companies like Airspace Link are helping us navigate these challenges, but local governments must also take the lead.
Romulus is already working toward becoming the first municipality to permit beyond-line-of-sight drone operations. In the next three to five years, I expect we’ll see a growing number of communities following its lead, recognizing the economic and environmental benefits of drone-based freight transport.
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