Public acceptance of civil drones - Challenges for UAM

Abstract

In recent years, civil drones have become increasingly present in the media and in everyday life. However, public acceptance of drones still seems limited, with acceptance rates usually ranging around 50%. This presentation reports challenges based on the findings of a representative study about the public acceptance of civilian drones in Germany. Several factors potentially limiting the use of drones in our cities are described, such as concerns about transport safety, animal welfare, and noise. Moreover, an effect of NIMBYism is confirmed in the context of UAM, as even residents who envision using drones for the delivery of parcels or as air taxis frequently report that they would not agree to flights over their own homes. Finally, the need for regulation is discussed, as well as potential measures to increase acceptance of drone delivery. Transparent information and providing residents with tools for participatory noise sensing might become viable measures to increase public support.