An initial review of the literature suggested low levels of public awareness despite national ambitions for the integration of drones into transport systems. There was minimal information on how and where they might be used and limited understanding of how this differed from more familiar drone uses such as hobby or toy drones or use for videography and photography.
To overcome these challenges, the E-Drone project used virtual reality (VR) to bring logistics drones into places that are familiar to people. A VR experience was created to replicate their use in a range of settings. The VR experience was combined with a survey which considered the acceptability of drone overflights at different frequencies and in varying contexts alongside a series of reflective questions which avoided prompting participants on pre-defined concerns. The VR survey was used in various settings (e.g., city and town centres, a local shopping area, a suburban centre and a country park), inviting passing members of the public to experience the drones flying over the location where they were sitting to give an idea of how logistics drones might look and sound in the absence of direct experience.
Over 400 participants were recruited across five survey sites, and the approach was subsequently adapted for use in the Future Flight in Place project. Responses to open questions revealed how noise represented the most prominent area of concern. Participants had questions and caveats around operational parameters (Where would the drones fly? What altitude? How often?) and were least supportive of drones being flown over residential areas. There was greater support for drone overflights when there was a medical use case, which built on emerging assumptions made around the need for and the viability of such services. The research highlighted the ‘Trojan Horse’ effect of the medical use case in establishing acceptability in advance of plans for the use of drones for more general logistics services.
Dickinson J, Smith A, Drummond J, Nadeem T, Cherrett T, Permana R, Waterson B and Oakey A (2024) What do people think about logistics drones? Exploring a possible transport future using virtual reality, Bournemouth UK: Bournemouth University.
Smith A, Dickinson J, Marsden G, Cherrett T, Oakey A and Grote M (2022) ‘Public acceptance of the use of drones for logistics: The state of play and moving towards more informed debate’, Technology in Society, 101883.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2022.101883
Smith A, Dickinson J E, Nadeem T, Snow B, Permana R, Cherrett T and Drummond J (2024) ‘Supporting inclusive debate on Advanced Air Mobility: An evaluation’, Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 136.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2024.104471
Smith A, Marsden G and Dickinson J (2022) Shaping the role of drones in UK logistics. In: Experimentation for Sustainable Transport? Risks, Strengths, and Governance Implications [Oldbury K, Isaksson K, Marsden G (eds)], Boxholm, Sweden: Linnefors Förlag.
Shaping the role of drones in UK logistics
Download the Virtual Reality headset visuals video files and instructions for use:
Instructions for using VR files
VR headset visual – Bournemouth