Gov. Whitmer Kicks Off First-Ever Uncrewed Triple Challenge, Advancing State’s Leadership in Advanced Aerial Mobility Innovation

May 20, 2025  

Contact: press@michigan.gov 

Gov. Whitmer Kicks Off First-Ever Uncrewed Triple Challenge, Advancing State’s Leadership in Advanced Aerial Mobility Innovation 

LANSING, Mich. – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer kicked off the Uncrewed Triple Challenge (UTC), a groundbreaking, state-sponsored competition of autonomous drones across water, air, and land. Michigan continues to lead the nation in uncrewed systems innovation with the inaugural, first-of-its-kind event as a bold initiative to fuel technological innovation, attract investment, and create jobs in Michigan’s growing autonomous mobility sector. 

The UTC was announced by Governor Whitmer in April 2024 as a key initiative to reinforce Michigan’s national leadership in advanced mobility. The competition is a result of collaboration between the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), Michigan National Guard (MING), Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). 

“This unique challenge, the first of its kind, puts Michigan on the cutting-edge of mobility and cements our reputation as a state that knows how to bring people together to get things done,” said Governor Whitmer. “I’m excited to kick-off the Uncrewed Triple Challenge and figure out ways we can use this autonomous drone technology to deliver medicine, cut down on delays in manufacturing, and save people time and money. By forging partnerships between state departments, the Michigan National Guard, and defense and tech businesses, we’re showing the world that Michigan isn’t just ready for the future—we're building it.” 

The UTC challenges teams to autonomously transport a package across water, air, and land with no human intervention through a rigorous course spanning Northern Michigan’s National All-Domain Warfighting Center (NADWC). Teams from academia, government, industry, and the military, representing seven states and two countries, will test next-generation drone systems over terrain and weather conditions that simulate real-world use cases. 

The competition will test autonomous systems across a three-part course: 

• A maritime segment beginning at the Alpena harbor to a point 5 nautical miles offshore in Thunder Bay 

• An airborne leg covering 58.5 miles to Camp Grayling 

• A land-based final stretch of 23.5 miles through rugged terrain to the finish line at Camp Grayling’s Parade Field 

The teams competing in the UTC include T3MP3ST, North American Robotics, and Optimotive; Mythos AI, SiFly, and Dataspeed; Swarmbotics AI; Flying Ship Company; and Snowbotix. They will compete for four awards for best in class: Best in Maritime, Best in Air, Best on Land and Best at Payload Transfer.  

“This Uncrewed Triple Challenge competition demonstrates that Michigan is not just the birthplace of mobility – but also we’re the proving ground for its future by air, land and water,” said Quentin L. Messer, Jr., CEO of the MEDC. “The UTC showcases the Team Michigan collaboration among our public sector, defense industry, and tech entrepreneurs to drive real-world innovation and job creation. We’re showcasing all that our state has to offer businesses in the mobility, defense, and aerospace sectors and invite entrepreneurs looking to build great companies to ‘Make It’ in Michigan.” 

"Michigan has always been a pioneer in our nation’s defense, from the days when Detroit was known as the Arsenal of Democracy to today’s cutting-edge efforts in autonomous systems," said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul D. Rogers, adjutant general and director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. "We are proud to host the inaugural UTC at the NADWC, which includes the Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center and Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, facilities instrumental in strengthening National Guard readiness and supporting Department of Defense priorities. The UTC showcases the innovative spirit driving Michigan’s defense and manufacturing sectors and highlights how emerging drone technologies can support a wide range of missions, including delivering medicine and critical equipment to military personnel.” 

“Advanced aerial mobility and the infrastructure needed to support the novel way to transport goods its infrastructure will be transformational in the way we transport goods across cities and regions in a safe, expedient, cost-efficient manner, and MDOT continues to lead the country in that arena,” said State Transportation Director Bradley C. Wieferich. “Michigan already has a robust network of aviation infrastructure, and capitalizing on that system makes the day when shipping critical products via AAM becomes a routine practice closer than ever.” 

Michigan: An Advanced Aerial Mobility Innovation Hub 

Michigan offers unmatched capabilities for testing and training with uncrewed systems and leads as one of the top states in the nation for defense and aerospace: 

• Nearly 4,000 Michigan companies are engaged in defense and aerospace work. 

• Michigan has the highest concentration of electrical and mechanical engineers in the nation. 

• University of Michigan boasts the No. 4 ranked graduate aerospace engineering program in the country.  

• Michigan ranks in the top 10 states in the nation for aerospace manufacturing attractiveness. 

• Michigan is home to a robust defense industrial base, serving home to the nation’s largest ground vehicle defense companies and key DoD contractors such as General Dynamics Land Systems, BAE Systems, GE Aviation, GM Defense, and others. 

• Michigan is home to two lightweight materials manufacturing U.S.A. institutes. 

• Michigan has the 6th largest advanced manufacturing workforce in the country, with more than 62,800 workers employed in advanced manufacturing industries in 2023. 

The UTC builds on this momentum to further Michigan’s competitive advantage as the premier location for autonomous and aerial systems development in the United States.  

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