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Michigan Mobility and Electrification Report Mid-January 2022

ofme-230Ford International Airport Launches FLITE to Develop, Introduce New High-Tech Air Travel Solutions

Partnership with MEDC, Southwest Airlines Provides Grants to Innovation-Driven Companies, Allowing Them to Test New Products, Services in Live Airport Environment

Grand Rapids, Michigan, January 19, 2022 – With support from the Michigan Economic Development Corp. and Southwest Airlines, the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority has introduced the Ford Launchpad for Innovative Technologies and Entrepreneurship, or FLITE, which provides grants and testing opportunities to companies focused on bringing emerging air travel technology solutions to market.

One of the first airport-based initiatives in the nation, FLITE provides funding to encourage design, development and pilot testing of new products and services in a live airport environment. Today, FLITE unveiled the first round of grants, providing $150,000 to three companies, including:

  • Aurrigo: Auto-Sim® software platform to create a “digital twin” of airside operations
  • WHILL: Autonomous mobility device
  • Sunflower Labs: Remote autonomous drone-in-a-box security system

“The Ford International Airport has long been an economic catalyst for West Michigan,” said Tory Richardson, president and CEO of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority. “FLITE enables us to harness that power and partner with entrepreneurs and established companies focused on developing innovative new products and services to improve air travel and foster a statewide ecosystem for innovation, entrepreneurship and tech-sector growth.

“We can now offer this select group of companies the invaluable opportunity to test their products in the real-world airport environment. Successful products, as we saw last year with the UV disinfecting robot, can scale up to meet the demands of larger airports while improving the overall experience for our guests.”

Grand Rapids-based Seamless, an innovation facilitation organization with vast experience aiding global enterprises in maximizing projects and partnerships with leading startups, is providing proof of concept coordination for grantees.

Stantec Generation AV(R), the autonomous vehicle practice of Edmonton, Canada-based global design firm Stantec, is providing world-class experience in AV planning and deployment, including safety verification. The firm has also established an advisory committee of airport subject matter experts to provide guidance and evaluation of the technology applications.

FLITE’s new advisory committee will provide feedback on the applications and pathways to scale proven and successful projects beyond Ford International Airport. They were chosen based on their commitment to innovation, industry leadership and technology solutions. Members include: Edmonton (Canada) International Airport, Nashville International Airport, Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, San Antonio International Airport, San Diego International Airport, Tampa International Airport, the U.S. Air Force and Vantage Airport Group.

The MEDC is committing an initial $150,000 to FLITE through the Michigan Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, which is working closely with Ford International Airport officials to ensure a successful launch. More than 20 businesses submitted grant applications for the first rounding of funding. Interested parties for the second round of grants, which will be awarded in June, can get more information and apply here.

Ford International Airport hopes to expand the financial support of FLITE by adding sponsors and other supporters, including venture capital firms, interested in investing in the technology being developed.

Last year, the MEDC awarded a grant to Pratt Miller to test its Large Area Autonomous Disinfecting, or LaaD, vehicle at the Ford International Airport, which was the first location in the world to pilot this new technology. This first-of-its-kind robot dispenses an FDA-approved disinfecting solution on high-contact surfaces, including seating, gates and vending machines.

The success of this test encouraged Ford International Airport officials to begin discussions with MEDC and Michigan’s Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, which led to FLITE.

“Michigan is and always has been a home for innovators, where next-generation mobility technologies can be developed, tested and deployed to address real-world challenges,” said Trevor Pawl, chief mobility officer for the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification. “We are proud to continue that rich legacy today through this innovative partnership with Ford International Airport and Southwest Airlines and congratulate the first cohort of FLITE for helping us shape the future of mobility as we know it here in Michigan.”

The Ford International Airport has identified six core focus areas for new technology advancements through FLITE:

  • Security: Enhancing the guest experience while strengthening safety and security throughout the campus.
  • Automation: Optimizing workforce resources to operate more efficiently, enhancing safety for freight and the movement of goods through distribution hubs.
  • Smart infrastructure: Deploying new technologies to optimize infrastructure resources.
  • Data analytics: Providing timely, accurate data to decision-makers.
  • Hold room of the future: Improving the experience during the time prior to boarding.
  • Safety: Improving safety of employees and equipment on the ramp, enhancing safety audits and real-time notification.

“FLITE’s focus areas provide a great opportunity to gain key insights into modernizing and improving operations for the airline and travel industries,” said Kevin Kleist, emerging trends advisor at Southwest Airlines. “We’re excited to partner with FLITE to support these high-potential products and services that can enhance Southwest’s mission to connect people to what’s important in their lives through friendly, reliable and low-cost air travel.”

FLITE has established a review committee to evaluate applications and award grants that includes: the MEDC, Michigan Department of Transportation, The Right Place, Inc., the city of Grand Rapids, Grand Ventures and Gentex Corp.

“We are honored to partner with the MEDC and Southwest Airlines on this unique venture, which is one of the first of its kind in the country,” said Dan Koorndyk, board chair of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority. “We also appreciate the support of our review committee. We look forward to working more closely with our airport counterparts to enable companies to dream bigger – and to be successful in doing so.”

What other partners are saying:

Seamless: Matt Benson, director: “FLITE provides world-class innovators unique access to the airport’s real-world environment to implement and test solutions in a controlled and thoughtful way. Working through the challenges of deploying at the airport, the partners will benefit from the learning and insights gained as they work on scaling their solutions.”

StantecGeneration AV: Corey Clothier, founder and director: “AV technology has the potential to make our communities safer, more resilient and more sustainable. Airports have a proud history of transportation innovation and provide an ideal environment to launch the next generation of mobility. We are excited to be a sponsor of FLITE and to invest our time, resources and expertise into new technologies applied to airport operations.”

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn, and Twitter.

Gov. Whitmer Announces Air Mobility Corridor Development in Michigan and Ontario
 
 

Michigan and Ontario recently announced that the two parties are collaborating on a first-of-its kind technology initiative involving unmanned aerial systems (UAS), more commonly known as drones. This effort involves studying the feasibility of a commercial drone skyway in three proposed areas, including an international connection between Michigan and Ontario, southeast Michigan, and any other suitable location in the state of Michigan.

“Cross-border partnership is critical across all dimensions of mobility, including aerial systems. Michigan and Ontario have a rich history of partnering on groundbreaking innovations and this project by Air Space Link continues that tradition,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “Considering the density of auto suppliers, logistic companies, technology start-ups, and consumers in the region, it is a natural fit to test this cutting-edge aerial technology here. The vital research could lead to faster product deliveries and reduced supply chain disruptions in the future, helping us grow Michigan’s economy and put Michiganders first.”

The goal of the study is to determine whether small drones can be flown beyond the line of sight of a pilot and be used in operations like just-in-time delivery, medical transport, or other small-scale deployment of UAS. The information gathered from this feasibility study will also be used to further decision-making in preparing for the future of advanced air mobility in North America.

“Ontario has a strong and strategically important economic connection with the State of Michigan,” said Ontario Premier Doug Ford. “We welcome this opportunity to further deepen that relationship and foster new jobs and economic opportunities in developing industries now and well into the future.”

The announcement builds on news from last year that Michigan and Ontario were extending their longstanding collaboration on transportation and cross-border activities.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
American Center for Mobility Announced Deloitte To Lead Technology Platform Integration Creating First of Kind ACM Autonomous Cloud
 
 

The American Center for Mobility (ACM) and Deloitte Consulting LLP have partnered to bring a new, integrated Platform-as-a-Service offering called the ACM Autonomous Cloud™, which addresses Connected and Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) test and validation requirements from simulation into physical testing by providing access to on-demand customized packages of simulation tools used to inform testing, including data management and analytics, mapping, modeling and simulation, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence model development.

“From our experience at the ACM Smart Mobility Test Center, we know that test cycles need to move faster between simulation and physical testing,” said Reuben Sarkar, president and CEO of ACM. “ACM and Deloitte collaborated to strategically develop a way to give simulation and test engineers faster access to the integrated CAV tool chain they need without having to forge multiple relationships, we will do it for them. The result is cost and time efficiencies in the loop of simulation to testing to validate new CAV technologies.”

Deloitte will serve as the lead service integration provider for the ACM Autonomous Cloud. With Deloitte supporting the ACM Autonomous Cloud’s integration with constellation partners, greater efficiencies will be realized by both simulation and test engineers by reducing the time needed to build relationships, customize packages, and accomplish tasks in simulation, driving speed to physical test execution.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Governor Whitmer Creates Michigan Infrastructure Office
 
 

Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently took major steps toward securing the future of Michigan’s infrastructure with the establishment of the Michigan Infrastructure Office. The Office will be responsible for organizing and executing Governor Whitmer’s vision for infrastructure, coordinating across state government, marshaling resources, as well as partnering with local officials, federal partners, and outside stakeholders to invest in Michigan’s infrastructure. Additionally, the Office will ensure that resources sent to Michigan under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act are used effectively and efficiently to accomplish tasks including repairs of roads and bridges, replacement of lead pipes, expansion of high-speed internet, and build up of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

“Since day one, I have been focused on fixing the damn roads and I am proud of the progress we have made to fix 13,198 lane miles of road and 903 bridges over the last three years,” said Governor Whitmer. “With passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Michigan will receive billions of dollars to build on our efforts at the state-level. I am proud to establish the Michigan Infrastructure Office to effectively invest these incoming resources in communities across every region of our state. By establishing this office, we can move full steam ahead toward continuing to improve commutes, keep families safe on the road, and create tens of thousands of good-paying jobs.”
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Listen to the Latest From Bryan Budds, Deputy Administrator of MDOT’s Office of Aeronautics, on the ‘Talking Michigan Transportation’ Podcast
 

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The podcast featuring Bryan Budds discusses news of Michigan and Ontario’s cross-border UAS feasibility study and gives listeners more information on the Office of Aeronautics’ role. Listen below, or on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.