The Traverse City area will be a testing ground for use of uncrewed aircraft systems to deliver medical supplies and critical healthcare services. Applications for marine surveillance, mapping, water sampling, and emergency response support will be possible as well.
The rural drone delivery program will be established and run by Traverse Connect working in partnership with Munson Healthcare, DroneUp, blueflite, and Central Michigan University's Rural Health Equity.
Organizers are hoping this event will bring together government officials, healthcare workers, people in education, including those with the Northwestern Michigan College Uncrewed Aerial Systems program and Traverse City Area Public Schools, technology experts, and researchers.
"We would love to have NMC there, those from TCAPS, like the Career Tech Center, looking at what potential career opportunities there could be further down the line," said Katherine DeGood, director of marketing and communications for Traverse Connect.
Tony Sauerbrey, Uncrewed Aerial Systems program manager for NMC, said the UAS students are aware of the initiative and it's inspiring for them to see this kind of cutting-edge project happening where they live.
"Seeing it come here, a lot closer to home, is very exciting," Sauerbrey said. "It's an amazing indicator that this industry is still growing; there's a lot more to do and a lot more development.
"Students are here because they love this technology and eventually they want to do something in this industry. I know they want to be involved, if there's a place for them to be involved, even if it's just learning more about how the operation works and observing. Who knows, maybe there's an internship or something down the road where they can be involved with this type of thing, if it continues to grow."
Attendees will have an opportunity to be educated on the operations and objectives of the medical drone delivery system by a panel of partner representatives who will give an update on the project at the event and explain their roles.
Camille Hoisington, Traverse Connect director of ecosystem development, will discuss the $689,500 grant they were awarded by the state's Advanced Aerial Mobility Activation Fund, and the projects they plan to finance with it.
The fund is a collaborative effort between the Michigan Department of Transportation, the Office of Future Mobility, and Electrification and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
But the focus will be on the medical drone delivery project working with Munson Healthcare — and Tracy Cleveland, supply chain vice president at Munson, will be on the panel.
Blueflite, a Michigan company, will be producing the drones to be used and DroneUp will be piloting the drones once the system is up and running.
Alison Arnold, CMU's Rural Health Equity Institute director, will be there to discuss the research program they will be running through the pilot project. The focus will be on how aerial drone medical delivery can be used to better serve rural populations.
These rural communities are part of the reason why Traverse City was chosen as a testing ground for this system. The city has a growing airport, a strong city center, surrounding rural areas, and other amenities that made it ideal for the project.
"The infrastructure that already exists here in the region and, primarily, the advantage of having NMC's UAS program, training upcoming pilots who are still in school, is a great combination," DeGood said.
Although NMC isn't a partner in this project, the Unmanned Aircraft Systems program has been offering advice and attending meetings.
"We're not directly involved, but anywhere we can be involved, we're doing that," Sauerbrey said.
Kathryn DePauw covers Indigenous Affairs in partnership with Report for America.
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