In December 2016, a massive sinkhole swallowed part of a residential neighborhood in Fraser, Michigan. What started as a collapsed sewer line became one of the most costly infrastructure failures in the state’s history, forcing evacuations, road closures, and a price tag of nearly $75 million for emergency repairs. For Macomb County, where the disaster unfolded, the event was a wake-up call. Aging underground infrastructure required new methods of inspection and monitoring—methods that traditional tools could no longer provide.

Today, that wake-up call has led to action. In partnership with SewerAI and powered by Flybotix’s ASIO X drone, Macomb County is revolutionizing the way it inspects its underground pipelines—achieving greater efficiency, safety, and millions of dollars in taxpayer savings.

From Crisis to Innovation

For decades, inspecting underground sewer systems meant sending crews into hazardous conditions or relying on crawlers tethered by cables. Progress was slow, costly, and often inconclusive. After the sinkhole disaster, Macomb County officials knew that the old way of doing things was no longer enough.

Enter Flybotix’s ASIO X, a drone designed specifically for confined-space inspections. With its unique dual-rotor propulsion system and protective cage, the ASIO X can navigate complex, GPS-denied environments such as sewers, tunnels, and culverts.

“What used to take us months to get any answer, we’re now able to get in about 24 hours,” a Macomb County official explained. The speed and accuracy of the new system have completely reshaped their inspection workflows.

ASIO X: A Drone Built for Confined Spaces

Unlike traditional quadcopters, the ASIO X is powered by an innovative coaxial rotor system. This design doubles flight time compared to most confined-space drones, giving inspectors the ability to cover nearly 1,000 feet of underground pipes in a single flight. Its compact build, collision-tolerant cage, and real-time video streaming make it uniquely suited for underground infrastructure inspections.

Key technical features include:

• Flight endurance of up to 24 minutes in confined environments
• Protective carbon-fiber cage for collision resilience
• Dual-rotor propulsion system with advanced control algorithms for stability
• Full HD visual and thermal imaging payloads for anomaly detection
• Real-time data transmission and post-flight integration with AI-powered analytics platforms like SewerAI

This combination allows teams to not only capture high-quality imagery but also automatically process the footage to detect cracks, leaks, or blockages.

The Power of AI Integration

The partnership between Flybotix and SewerAI has proven transformative. SewerAI’s machine-learning platform processes the ASIO X’s imagery, automatically flagging defects that would previously have taken weeks of human review to identify.

By reducing both inspection and analysis time, the integrated system gives county officials a near real-time understanding of the health of their infrastructure. This rapid feedback allows maintenance teams to prioritize repairs before minor issues escalate into catastrophic failures—avoiding sinkholes like the one that devastated Fraser in 2016.

Efficiency, Safety, and Savings

The impact of the ASIO X goes beyond speed. By replacing manual entry with drone-based inspections, municipalities dramatically improve worker safety. Crews no longer need to descend into hazardous environments, reducing exposure to toxic gases, confined spaces, and structural instability.

For taxpayers, the financial implications are equally profound. Faster inspections, better data, and predictive maintenance translate into millions of dollars in avoided repair costs. Instead of reacting to disasters, counties can proactively manage their assets.

As one Macomb County official summarized: “The result is greater efficiency and safety, prevention of future failures, and millions of dollars in taxpayer savings.”

A New Era for Infrastructure Management

The ASIO X’s success in Macomb County signals a broader shift in how municipalities worldwide can approach aging infrastructure. With trillions of dollars in deferred maintenance across the United States and much of Europe, the need for innovative solutions has never been greater.

By blending advanced drone technology with AI-powered analytics, Flybotix and its partners are offering not just tools, but a blueprint for proactive infrastructure management.

Looking Ahead

The sinkhole disaster in Fraser will forever remain a stark reminder of the risks posed by hidden infrastructure failures. Yet out of that crisis has emerged a model for innovation—one that is already paying dividends for communities in Michigan.

Flybotix’s ASIO X demonstrates the potential of drones to transform industries beyond agriculture, defense, or delivery. In the hands of county governments and infrastructure managers, it has become a guardian of public safety and a steward of taxpayer resources.

What began as a $75 million failure is now fueling a future where disasters can be prevented, money can be saved, and technology can help communities thrive.

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