More eyes in the sky: ODOT testing drones to monitor traffic, road conditions
Carrie Ghose - Columbus Business First • June 8, 2018
CAL Analytics to Collaborate on DriveOhio Research Project
Drones will monitor traffic and road conditions along the Dublin-to-Marysville stretch of Rt. 33 in a research project complementing smart mobility tests of driverless and connected vehicles.
The $5.9 million, three-year study also will test ways to manage the traffic of unmanned aircraft systems themselves, looking toward a future of package delivery and air taxis, the Ohio Department of Transportation said.
DriveOhio, which is ODOT's smart mobility coordinating center, and Ohio State University's College of Engineering are leading the project that starts July 1. DriveOhio is overseeing the separate but complementary Smart Mobility Corridor, a $15 million research initiative funded by state and local governments to test how autonomous vehicles interact with each other and regular traffic along the 35-mile stretch of Rt. 33.
The drones will supplement existing fixed cameras and interact with sensors and communication equipment installed along the corridor for real-time reports of traffic conditions, ODOT said. Researchers will study how drones could interact with vehicles that are either driverless or have a driver but are connected. (The corridor project plans to install on-board sensors and communication equipment on more than 1,000 cars.)
“At DriveOhio, we are looking for innovative ways to integrate technology into our transportation systems. This project will help us explore the intersection between autonomous and connected vehicles on land and in the air," Jim Barna, Executive Director of DriveOhio, said in a statement. "The goal is to understand how we can better manage traffic, roadway incidents, and roadway conditions using advanced technology and data analysis.”
Researchers also will investigate how to ensure unmanned aircraft don't collide with each other or with small planes and helicopters piloted at low altitudes.
“This research project will make the development of that safety system a priority so that other aircraft operations such as package delivery and air taxi services can be explored down the road,” Fred Judson, director of DriveOhio’s unmanned aircraft center, said in a statement.
This is one of the first projects for Airxos, a Boston subsidiary General Electric launched Thursday to design "safe, efficient, scalable integration of air and ground space for manned and unmanned vehicles."
Airxos said it will install sensors and communication equipment along the stretch to feed data from the drones to ODOT's Traffic Management Center.
DriveOhio and Ohio State have several other collaborators on the project:
- Cal Analytics LLC, a Dayton company developing autonomous navigation systems.
- Gannett Fleming, a Pennsylvania engineering and traffic design firm.
- Gryphon Skylight, a system of sensors for drone traffic management from the Syracuse, New York-based research nonprofit SRC Inc.
- Transportation Research Center Inc., a Honda Motor Co. facility in East Liberty that's a key research center for connected and driverless vehicles for several initiatives including Smart Columbus.
- Columbus engineering firm Woolpert.
- Ohio State University Airport and Midwest Air Traffic Control.
Originally published by Columbus Business First.
CAL and AV Execute Multi-year Agreement with GrandSKY to Deliver Ground-Based Detect and Avoid for Group 1–5 BVLOS UAS Operations
The milestone strengthens CAL’s AtlasAI platform for safer, scalable BVLOS drone operations under the FAA’s proposed Part 108 framework.
COLUMBUS, OH (February 9, 2026) — Ohio continues to lead the nation in modernizing emergency response with the selection of nine public safety agencies to participate in the Ohio Statewide Drone First Responder (DFR) Pilot Program , a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to expand rapid aerial response capabilities across communities of all sizes. The program, led by the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and DriveOhio, with program management support from SkyfireAI, reflects Ohio’s commitment to equipping first responders with innovative tools that improve situational awareness, enhance officer and responder safety, and reduce emergency response times. The following agencies have been selected to participate in the pilot program: City of Springfield Police/Fire/EMS Athens Police Department Lima Police Department Toledo Police Department Violet Township Fire/EMS Austintown Fire Department City of Hamilton Police/Fire/EMS Amherst Police Department Kelleys Island Fire/EMS Together, these agencies represent a diverse cross-section of Ohio, spanning urban centers, suburban communities, and rural jurisdictions — reinforcing the program’s goal of ensuring access to advanced emergency response capabilities statewide. Many of the selected agencies have also committed to sharing drone resources with neighboring jurisdictions, further expanding the impact of this program. “Ohio is committed to giving our first responders the tools they need to protect lives and serve their communities safely and effectively,” said Governor Mike DeWine . “This statewide Drone First Responder pilot reflects Ohio’s leadership in innovation, our strong partnership with local agencies, and our focus on using technology responsibly to support public safety across the state.” Created under Ohio House Bill 96, the Ohio Statewide DFR Pilot Program enables participating agencies to deploy state-approved, NDAA-compliant drone systems capable of rapid launch, real-time video streaming to command staff, and integration into Ohio’s emerging uncrewed aircraft traffic management framework, led by Ohio-based CAL Analytics. “We are enthusiastic supporters of DFR program and thankful for the efforts of so many Ohio leaders to accelerate this program into the execution phase,” said State Representative Adam Holmes , who championed the program's inclusion in the bill. “The DFR program will greatly enhance first responder effectiveness and will provide increased support for all Ohioans. A tremendous capability for our priceless first responders.” “Ohio is leading the way for the nation with the first statewide DFR program! Our ODOT leaders are setting the stage for an integrated network of DFR assets that will undoubtedly save lives and resources and be a force-multiplier for our undermanned first responder organizations,” said State Representative Bernard Willis , Chair of the House Transportation Committee. “In Ohio, the HOME of aviation we are the BEST at making historic innovations with flying machines, and we will NEVER stop leading the way!” With technology known as drone-in-a-box, a drone can be launched from a permanent docking site and be flown remotely to a scene. These pre-positioned drones provide real-time visual information to aid decision-making, and some can also drop critical medical supplies to the scene of an emergency. The program emphasizes operational readiness, standardized training, and responsible use, while maintaining a strong focus on community engagement and transparency. “This program is about thoughtful implementation, not experimentation,” said Richard Fox, Director of the DriveOhio UAS Center . "By coordinating procurement, training, and regulatory support at the state level, Ohio is creating a scalable model that benfits communities of every size. We're grateful for the confidence the legislature has in ODOT to execute this groundbreaking program." SkyfireAI, a national leader in public safety drone program development and FAA regulatory integration, is supporting the initiative as program manager, working closely with ODOT, DriveOhio, and participating agencies to ensure consistent standards and successful deployment. “The selection of these nine agencies reflects the strength of Ohio’s public safety community and the seriousness with which this program has been approached,” said Don Mathis, Co-Founder and CEO SkyfireAI . "This pilot lays the foundation for how states can responsibly scale DFR programs today — and prepare for future capabilities as technology continues to evolve." Selected agencies will participate in a structured onboarding process beginning in early 2026, including hands-on vendor demonstrations, training, and program coordination. Operations are expected to begin in Spring 2026 and continue for approximately a year. The pilot program will evaluate operational effectiveness, response outcomes, and opportunities for future expansion. Ohio’s Statewide Drone First Responder Pilot Program has already drawn national attention as a potential blueprint for other states seeking to modernize emergency response while maintaining strong governance, safety, and public trust. ### About CAL Analytics: CAL Analytics is a small business focusing on the development of aviation and autonomous systems. Located in Dayton, OH and founded in 2010, CAL has expertise in navigation systems, remote sensing, signal analysis, and information fusion. CAL is a leader in UAS Traffic Management (UTM) and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) technology, offering airspace management, mission management, detect and avoid, and in-time system-wide safety assurance (ISSA) solutions. Our mission is to provide agile and rigorous approaches to bring new technologies to the world. More information at calanalytics.com About SkyfireAI: SkyfireAI is an AI-native drone technology company redefining mission-scale autonomy for public safety, defense, and enterprise markets. Our cloud-connected and edge-enabled software platform powers autonomous swarming, Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, and real-time AI analytics—unlocking faster response, smarter decision-making, and safer operations. Built for scalability, SkyfireAI’s solutions deliver repeatable, high-value outcomes across thousands of missions, positioning the company to capitalize on a rapidly expanding global uncrewed systems market projected to exceed $100 billion by 2030. More information is available at skyfireai.com . About ODOT’s DriveOhio Initiative: DriveOhio is the state’s center for smart mobility, advancing connected, automated, shared, and electric transportation. The UAS Center, located in Springfield, OH, is the statewide resource for uncrewed aircraft systems testing, integration, and operations.
