Detroit, MI
Detroit Battery Safety Provider Reaches to the Skies with Med Hawk
Energy Storage Safety Products International (ESSPI), based in Newlab Detroit at Michigan Central, has launched Med Hawk, a new division of the company focused on bringing its ground-based transportation monitoring system to the skies.
With this launch, ESSPI will provide drone operators with insight and analytics when aircraft are transporting medical supplies beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS).
“The drone industry has built the foundation for incredible unmanned aircraft, but now ESSPI is working to demonstrate how we can make those same drones work for us,” says Ron Butler, CEO of ESSPI. “Using Med Hawk’s real-time data and monitoring systems, we are able to help ensure that medical supplies are delivered quickly and safely, ultimately helping to save lives.”
Med Hawk has partnered with Brighton autonomous drone logistics company Blueflite to demonstrate its drone battery monitoring and data logging capabilities and is utilizing the Michigan Central AAIR to replicate deliveries in real-world deployment scenarios.
“Blueflite is excited to work with ESSPI in flight testing their innovative and unique cold storage solution for medical logistics,” says Andrew Zeimen, program manager at Blueflite. “We are looking forward to flying with a Michigan designed and manufactured product on our mission to continue making drone delivery accessible to those that need it, where and when they need it most.”
ESSPI technology is built on the understanding that batteries often exhibit measurable environmental changes before catastrophic failure, the company says. Designed through three years of collaborative development with the U.S Department of Transportation, ESSPI’s DNOC framework — Detection, Notification, Operation, and Communication — allows Med Hawk to provide real-time visibility, data logging, and alerts so drone operators can take action before issues escalate.
Advanced aerial mobility is expanding access to medical deliveries, improving emergency response capabilities, and driving efficiencies across logistics and supply chains. Michigan Central and the Michigan Department of Transportation created AAIR to help scale these technologies, providing 28 square miles of dense, urban environment for testing and scaling new drone technologies into market-ready solutions.
“The diversification of ESSPI’s market offering showcases the transition we’re seeing many companies make, identification and commercialization of products which will make aerial mobility a viable platform to scale their business, while providing solutions for communities that better serve their needs,” says Matt Whitaker, director of the mobility innovation platform at Michigan Central. “What we are seeing with ESSPI and Blueflite is exactly what the Michigan Central ecosystem was built for. To create the foundation for talent and inspiring collaboration between member companies, leading to the next generation of advanced mobility innovation being born in Detroit.”
The collaboration is said to reflect broader momentum across Michigan Central’s aerial mobility ecosystem, which has supported more than 1,200 drone flights and multiple BVLOS deployments focused on logistics, infrastructure inspection, public safety, and delivery applications.
For more information about ESSPI, visit esspi.com/.
For more information about blueflite, visit blueflite.com/.
For more information about Michigan Central AAIR, visit here.
2 injured at Great Lakes Crossing shooting
Two injured in shooting at Great Lakes Crossing; suspect in custody. Authorities ask public to avoid the area.
Three people are dead and at least two others wounded after shootings broke out at Metro Detroit shopping malls just eight days apart.
The shootings all involved young adults, ages 19-22, who carried weapons, at least one lawfully.
At Great Lakes Crossing Outlets in Auburn Hills on Saturday, a Pontiac man was killed and a woman injured in the food court after an altercation that occurred in a bathroom rekindled in the food court.
In Dearborn, Cameron Watkins and Keonte Seaborn, both 19 and of Detroit, were killed on July 3 at Fairlane Town Center after a July 3 altercation involving three others.
Keianna Hundley, Keonte’s mother, decried the violence that took her son just two years after he graduated from high school.
“Seeing him walk across the stage with a big smile meant everything to me,” Hundley said. “I don’t wish the pain I feel on any parent.”
Great Lakes Crossing mall shooting Saturday
Auburn Hills police said they were patrolling Great Lakes Crossing Outlets at about 5:20 p.m. when they received reports of shots fired in the food court.
A 22-year-old Detroit man and a 20-year-old Pontiac man had an altercation inside the food court restroom at Great Lakes Crossing Outlets earlier. After 5 p.m. Saturday, the Pontiac man, then with another individual, saw and attacked the Detroit man, who had a license to carry a concealed weapon.
The Detroit man fired on the Pontiac man, killing him and wounding a 19-year-old woman who was not identified, according to Auburn Hills police. The Detroit man was taken into custody and was cooperating with authorities but has not been identified by police.
The shooting sent shoppers scurrying for the exits and the mall was closed for the remainder of the day.
Fairlane shopping mall shooting July 3
Police update on fatal shooting at Fairlane Mall in Dearborn
Police update on fatal shooting at Fairlane Mall in Dearborn on Friday afternoon, July 3, 2026.
Early in the afternoon of July 3, several young adults were involved in an altercation at the mall.
Prosecutors determined that Watkins and Seaborn both produced weapons.
Watkins shot Seaborn with the weapon he took from the purse of another person linked to the shooting, Cania Cain, and then continued to “shoot recklessly in the public mall,” officials said. A fourth person, Martinez Long, 19, then shot Watkins, prosecutors allege. Long was arraigned Tuesday in Dearborn’s 19th District Court on one count of carrying a concealed weapon.
Watkins’ death was determined to be a shooting in self defense and no charges were authorized for the homicide
The chaos sent shoppers running for the exits, and one person was struck by a vehicle during the scramble to flee, Police Chief Issa Shahin said.
“Senseless gun violence continues to plague communities across the country,” Shahin said earlier this week. “We are saddened by this entirely preventable tragedy but have to reiterate: We will expend all resources to keep our city safe and hold individuals responsible for dangerous behavior.”
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DETROIT (AP) — Cristopher Sánchez struck out seven in seven innings, Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto doubled and the Philadelphia Phillies ended the Detroit Tigers’ six-game winning streak with a 4-2 victory Saturday night.
The Phillies are 45-25 since snapping a 10-game losing streak April 25 and have the second-highest winning percentage in that span.
Sánchez (11-4) allowed two runs on 10 hits, bouncing back from a career-worst outing against Kansas City. Jonathan Bowlan threw a hitless eighth, and Jhoan Duran had a 1-2-3 ninth for his 24th save.
Trea Turner’s sacrifice fly got the Phillies on the board in the third inning. Derek Hill prevented Zach McKinstry from driving in the tying run with a spectacular diving catch.
Realmuto had a two-run double in the fourth to extend the lead.
The Tigers got one back on Eduardo Valencia’s solo homer in the fifth.
Casey Mize (4-6) worked 5 2/3 innings for Detroit.
Up next
Phillies RHP Zack Wheeler (9-1, 2.28 ERA) was set to face Tigers LHP Tarik Skubal (5-4, 3.06) on Sunday.
A woman died, and a person is in custody, in the aftermath of a two-vehicle crash on Friday evening in Detroit.
An emergency call was placed at 7:39 p.m., reporting the crash at Collingwood and Belleterre streets. The Detroit Police Department said one of the drivers was traveling at a high rate of speed on Collingwood and disregarded a stop sign at the intersection, striking the other vehicle.
The crash killed a woman who is in her 40s and injured a man who is also in his 40s. A medical condition was not available for the injured man.
The Detroit Police Department said a suspect is in custody and they are continuing to investigate.
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