Michigan State Team's NASA Challenge Work Led to Drone Startup

Gavin Gardner studied engineering at Michigan State University and took part in NASA’s University Student Research Challenge with projects focused on drone power and delivery. He and other program alumni founded AG3 Labs in 2024 to develop drones for military training exercises.

Key details

• The Aerial Intra-city Delivery Electric Drones concept explored a cargo drone that could travel aboard a bus during part of a delivery route.
• In 2023, Gardner’s team received a second challenge award for the Laser Energized Aerial Drone System, which explored transferring power to a drone in flight; the team flew a prototype.
• Gardner completed a NASA internship in 2024 and earned a master’s degree in spring 2025.

AG3 Labs was founded by Gavin Gardner and other University Student Research Challenge alumni in 2024.

Why it matters

The two projects addressed different parts of drone operations: moving cargo through an urban route and supplying power to an aircraft in flight. AG3 Labs connects that university research experience with the development of drones for training exercises.