Michigan State Capitol Deploys Drone Management System
The Michigan State Capitol has deployed Airspace Link's AirHub platform to manage and secure the airspace over its complex. The system provides a real-time common operating picture for security to monitor and control drone operations, reflecting a growing need for unmanned traffic management in sensitive areas.
The move follows years of escalating security concerns at the Michigan State Capitol. A drone ban was first instituted by the Capitol Commission back in 2015, citing risks from terrorism to accidental damage, though officials noted enforcement was difficult. This new system is part of a broader security overhaul that includes a planned $2 million in upgrades. State lawmakers have been laying the groundwork for this type of regulation. State Representative William Bruck has been a key figure, co-sponsoring bipartisan legislation to apply trespassing laws to drones near critical infrastructure and hosting a "Capitol Drone Symposium 2.0" in February 2026 to align policymakers and industry stakeholders. The AirHub platform functions as a Drone Operations Management System (DOMS), creating a unified command center for security. As an FAA-approved service, it integrates the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) system, which is used to approve flights in controlled airspace, providing a direct link to federal flight data. From a hardware perspective, the system relies on a layered sensor approach. At its core are radio frequency (RF) analyzers that scan for the characteristic control and video signals of drones, which typically operate in the 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz bands. This allows the system not only to detect a drone but also to identify its model and pinpoint the pilot's location. For more robust tracking, multiple RF sensor nodes can be networked to use Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) for precise, real-time positioning of both the drone and its controller. This RF data is often fused with inputs from specialized radar designed to track small, low-flying objects and optical/thermal cameras for visual confirmation. This local deployment reflects a larger federal push to secure sensitive locations. The FAA generally restricts drone flights over government buildings and recently established "National Defense Airspace," a dynamic, moving no-fly zone up to 3,000 feet around federal mobile assets, with violators facing potential seizure of the drone and criminal prosecution.
