Birdstop, a developer of autonomous, American-made drones for continuous monitoring, announced May 6 that it has begun using AI-powered drone technology to monitor trucking sites in Detroit, marking the first phase of a broader effort to modernize U.S. freight infrastructure.

The initiative is being carried out in partnership with TSPS Inc., a Detroit-based company specializing in truck parking and lot management. By combining Birdstop’s drone-based sensing with TSPS’s real-time parking platform, the project aims to improve visibility, safety and efficiency across freight corridors.

The U.S. trucking industry moves about 73% of the nation’s freight by weight and generates more than $900 billion in annual revenue. However, truck parking shortages remain a persistent challenge, contributing to driver fatigue, operational inefficiencies and safety risks, particularly along rural and high-traffic routes where real-time parking information is limited.

Birdstop has deployed drone systems at two Oasis Parking locations in Detroit monitored by TSPS. The drones collect aerial imagery and telemetry data, which are processed using AI and computer vision to detect trucks and identify available parking spaces. The resulting insights are integrated into a shared visualization platform and made available to users through the TSPS system, providing real-time parking availability.

“America runs on the trucking system,” said Keith Miao, founder and CEO of Birdstop. “Working with TSPS, we’re using autonomous drone technology to help secure and modernize the network that moves billions of dollars in goods every day.”

TSPS CEO Carl Rundell said the partnership offers a scalable alternative to traditional fixed-sensor systems. “Partnering with Birdstop allows us to extend coverage using a flexible, drone-based approach that delivers real-time operational insight across the entire freight network,” he said.

The deployment represents an initial step toward Birdstop’s long-term vision of a nationwide network of drones providing continuous infrastructure monitoring. The project will assess system performance, operational feasibility and cost benefits compared with conventional monitoring approaches, while laying the groundwork for future applications including infrastructure maintenance and emergency response.

The project is funded through the Michigan Mobility Funding Platform and administered by NextEnergy in partnership with Michigan’s Office of Future Mobility and Electrification. State leaders said Detroit’s heavy truck traffic and freight-related air quality challenges make it a key testbed for emerging mobility technologies.

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Birdstop launches AI drone monitoring at Detroit trucking sites

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