DETROIT — Robotics and autonomous technologies are increasingly shaping how critical work gets done—from inspecting aging bridges, monitoring power grids and helping first responders save lives in disaster zones to strengthening manufacturing operations and defining the future of skilled trades.
Detroit will host industry, government and research leaders to explore how these systems are already being deployed and to address barriers preventing wider, quicker adoption during the three-day XPONENTIAL, co-located with MDEX conference May 11-14 at Huntington Place in downtown Detroit.
For the first time, the AUVSI Defense Theater will collaborate with the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) Michigan Chapter, seamlessly integrating the Michigan Defense Exposition (MDEX) into the broader event experience. This co-location connects autonomy innovators with defense, government and industry leaders focused on acquisition, manufacturing and operational deployment. More than 3,000 defense professionals are expected to participate, creating opportunities for companies across Michigan’s defense supply chain.
“This is going to be our 17th year, so it’s something that we’ve … kind of had a routine going,” said Misty Martin, the MDEX chair. “But for this year we were asked to co-host with XPONENTIAL, which is an international show, and to run the defense portion of it. So what’s really going to be the biggest difference is we’re going to go from an attendee footprint of 3,200 to close to between 11,000 to 13,000. So that’s going to be huge.”
“Across Michigan and around the world, robotics and autonomous systems are already solving real problems: keeping workers safer, optimizing supply chains and helping communities respond to emergencies,” said Michael Robbins, president and CEO of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International, the convening organization for XPONENTIAL. “Detroit is a timely place for this conversation because it represents where advanced technologies meet real operational demands. This is about deployment, not theory.”
Programming spans six tracks and more than 100 sessions and 450 speakers, offering insight into how autonomy is transforming sectors central to Michigan’s economy and daily life. Below are key themes shaping this year’s conversations.
Amazon was one of several vendors on hand at Monday’s media preview, showing off one of the company’ delivery drones. The drone can deliver packages to its customers filled with products available on Amazon.
According to Matt McCardle, Director of Global Regulatory, Strategy, and Infrastructure for Prime Air, Amazon’s drone delivery service, the drones allow Amazon to deliver up to 60,000 unique items.
With a range of more than seven miles, drones typically arrive at the delivery destination, McCardle explained, within about four minutes from the time it takes off.
“We sell a lot of AirTags and AirPods and Tylenol and Advil and everyday healthcare and beauty essentials,” McCardle explained. “The type of things that traditionally, when you think of what you need urgently as a customer, it’s all those same things.”
Michigan, and the country at large, is facing persistent skilled labor shortages even as demand for advanced manufacturing grows. Autonomous systems will help fill gaps, but only if workers are trained to deploy, operate and maintain them. Sessions will explore how robotics and AI are augmenting human labor, strengthening productivity and creating new workforce opportunities.
“Detroit is the home of the arsenal of democracy,” Robbins said. “Detroit is reinventing itself once again as a economic and innovation center. And there’s a tremendous amount of investment, support from the city, support from the state, support from the local business community to drive innovation here in Detroit and bring businesses and bring innovators to the state. “Change is happening very, very fast,” he added. “But that’s a good thing because we need change. We need to drive this economy forward and the autonomy industry is a big part of what’s driving the future economy.”
