Michigan Central and ResilienX today announced a collaboration to demonstrate how a shared, outcomes-based drone as a service model can provide rapid, cost-effective aerial content for Detroit-area media organizations. The On-Demand Regional Intelligent Operations Network, powered by ResilienX (ORION-X),  deployment will integrate directly into local newsroom workflows to provide newsworthy content on demand.

“The Advanced Aerial Innovation Region (AAIR) at Michigan Central exists to accelerate deployment of drone technology in real-world dense urban environments,” said Matt Whitaker, Director of Innovation Platform at Michigan Central.  “Beyond demonstrations, we are focused on supporting repeatable operations at scale. This initiative brings together infrastructure, policy, and partners to prove what daily, dependable aerial capture can look like in Detroit.”

By aligning technical operations with Detroit’s innovation district and partners, the pilot aims to reduce friction between urgent editorial needs and safe, compliant drone commercial needs.

“Detroit is the right proving ground for outcomes-based drone services,” said Andrew Carter, CEO of ResilienX. “With ORION-X, organizations request a mission and get the data, no fleet CAPEX, no pilot payroll, no regulatory or liability hurdles, which is exactly the kind of model that helps media move at the speed of news.”

The program will also document lessons learned and operational data that can guide expansion across Michigan. Insights from Detroit will help shape templates for scale, including regulatory approaches, technical integration patterns, and service delivery models that can be replicated by other cities and commercial partners. This effort is intended to accelerate the adoption of safe and dependable drone operations throughout the state.

Pilot partners: Michigan Central, Newlab, Detroit media partners, and ResilienX.

About ORION-X

ORION-X is a shared network that delivers on-demand aerial data as a service. Agencies submit a task; ORION-X handles planning, approvals, operations, and data delivery, no fleets to buy, no pilots to train, and reduced regulatory overhead.

About ResilienX
ResilienX is a leader in assured autonomy and systems integration for uncrewed ecosystems, enabling reliable and scalable operations that make future skies safer.

About Michigan Central

Michigan Central is a 30-acre technology and cultural hub in Detroit, where leaders, thinkers, communities and creators come together to accelerate bold ideas and technologies that shape our collective future. By providing access to world-class infrastructure, tools, and resources, Michigan Central inspires innovators and community members to collaborate on real, ground-breaking solutions to global problems. Since opening in April 2023, Michigan Central has grown into a diverse ecosystem of nearly 250 companies and startups working at the intersection of mobility, technology and society. Learn more at Michigan Central .