A competition is underway in Michigan this week across water, air, and land.

It’s called the Uncrewed Triple Challenge, and Governor Gretchen Whitmer helped kick things off in Alpena Tuesday morning.

“It is the first of its kind in this country, and I’m really proud that Michigan is on the cutting edge,” Whitmer said. “We pulled together defense, transportation, economic development experts to collaborate as we decide this challenge.”

The competition, which features participants from seven states and three countries, has three distinct courses and two transfer zones. The maritime course is located at the city of Alpena Harbor and runs out to a boat five nautical miles from the shore in Thunder Bay. It then returns to the maritime transfer zone where teams will transition the payload for the air course.

Following the water segment, teams will complete the air segment of the competition, traveling from Alpena to Grayling.

Following the air segment, teams will complete the land segment in Grayling as the final leg of the competition.