LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The Michigan Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (MOFME) is calling all drone technology companies to propose drone solutions to public problems, such as mapping wildfires, spotting boating accidents, and predicting crash zones.

In a notice released Monday, the MOFME announced the opening of applications for the Advanced Air Mobility Statewide Mobility Challenges, a series of challenges from state government agencies designed to improve operations within the agency through drone technology. Private companies can propose a project to one of the agencies which solve the identified problems.

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Among the state agencies, the Michigan State Police (MSP), Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Department of Transportation (DOT), and the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), all put forth challenges first.

MSP aims to develop drone detection systems to protect against unauthorized drones, DNR seeks to upgrade existing drone technologies, MDOT strives to gather road and vehicle data, and EGLE wants to implement water surveillance for pollutant and water safety purposes.

The application for MSP’s challenge opened Monday, while other projects have applications open later in the week.

Advanced Air Mobility Initiative, an executive directive signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer earlier this year, established these challenges. The initiative also invested over $4.1 million into four Michigan companies for drone technology research and infrastructure.

Michigan’s rapid increase in drone technology is a part of the state’s response to the President’s June 6, 2025 executive order, Unleashing American Drone Dominance, which aims to accelerate American drone innovation.