Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary Hosts Michigan's Next Generation Drone Competition
May 21, 2025
Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary was honored and excited to support the inaugural Uncrewed Triple Challenge, a state-sponsored competition designed to drive innovation in autonomous drone technology.
This three-part challenge began in the sanctuary, where autonomous boats navigated from the Alpena Marina to a turnaround buoy 5 nautical miles into the sanctuary. When the boat returned, a drone autonomously retrieved a package from the vessel to continue the journey. This challenge brought technology companies from three countries and seven states together on teams to use cutting-edge autonomous technology to seamlessly transport a package across Michigan—traversing water, air, and land—with the finish line in Grayling, Michigan.
The Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center, the sanctuary's free, family-friendly visitor center that showcases the region's rich maritime history and offers a gateway to the sanctuary's underwater treasures, was transformed for one day into a planning and staging hub for the competition. Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary staff also provided on-water support during the marine leg of the challenge, ensuring a safe and successful start to the event.
The Uncrewed Triple Challenge is a partnership between the Michigan National Guard, the Michigan Department of Transportation, and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. This exciting initiative highlights northeast Michigan and Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary as a premier location for research, innovation, and real-world testing of emerging technologies.