The State of Michigan’s Mobility Funding Platform (MMFP) has awarded MightFly a USD150,000 grant to perform autonomous cargo delivery flight demonstrations in the state of Michigan. The public demonstration of an autonomous, fixed-wing electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft will showcase 100 pounds of cargo deliveries.
During these demonstration flights, conducted with the support of the Michigan Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME), MightyFly will showcase the capabilities of its third-generation autonomous cargo aircraft with 100 pounds of cargo capacity and a 6 ft by 19 inch by 18 inch cargo bay, capable of carrying up to 212 small USPS packages. MightyFly’s express delivery solutions will bring new logistics opportunities to businesses, says the press release.
The logistics needs of Michigan’s manufacturing, automotive, logistics, retail, chemical and pharmaceutical industries offer the scenario for MightyFly to demonstrate a new way to ship products, parts, supplies and various goods. MightyFly’s delivery services aim to provide cost savings for just-in-time manufacturing lines, timely deliveries of shipments for medical treatments, and quick replacements of consumer goods to retailers.
The MMFP grant program is managed by the OFME. The program was launched by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to catalyze and scale new mobility solutions that improve environmental sustainability by encouraging EV adoption and charging infrastructure buildout, increasing access to affordable and reliable transportation options and modernizing existing transportation systems for Michiganders. The OFME has previously partnered with the Michigan Unmanned Aerial Systems Consortium (MUASC) to facilitate testing of autonomous aircraft in Michigan. The OFME works across state government, regulators, academia and private industry to build a robust ecosystem of partners capable of leading the adoption and use of transformative mobility solutions like that of MightyFly.
In addition to this project, MightyFly is currently scoping and planning proof of concept (POCs) trials with partners throughout 2024 and 2025.
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