Earlier this year, North Carolina hosted the country’s first autonomous air taxi flight and the first emergency drone operation for a hospital pandemic response – the North Carolina Department of Transportation delivered critical equipment and medical supplies in the Charlotte area. It was also first in the country to use drones to monitor flooding, road conditions and traffic impact after Hurricane Florence in 2018. On the rail line between Charlotte and Raleigh, infrared cameras help with tailoring safety efforts to prevent people from getting hit by trains.