Drones for parcel and passenger transportation: A literature review

Delivery drones and ‘air taxis’ are currently among the most intensely discussed emerging technologies, likely to expand mobility into the ‘third dimension’ of low-level airspace. This paper presents a systematic literature review of 111 interdisciplinary publications (2013 - 03/2019). The review systematizes the current socio-technical debate on civil drones for transportation purposes allowing for a (critical) interim assessment. To guide the review process four dimensions of analysis were defined. A total of 2581 relevant quotations were subdivided into anticipated barriers (426), potential problems (1037), proposed solutions (737) and expected benefits (381). We found that the debate is characterized by predominantly technical and regulatory problems and barriers which are considered to prevent or impede the use of drones for parcel and passengers transportation. At the same time, definite economic expectations are juxtaposed with quite complex and differentiated concerns regarding societal and environmental impacts. Scrutinizing the most prevalent transportation-related promises of traffic reduction, travel time saving and environmental relief we found that there is a strong need to provide scientific evidence for the promises linked to the use of drones for transportation. We conclude that the debate on drones for transportation needs further qualification, emphasizing societal benefits and public involvement more strongly.TU Berlin, Open-Access-Mittel - 201

Drones para el transporte de paquetes y pasajeros: un análisis cualitativo de la aceptación pública

Civil and commercial drones are on the verge of becoming a key technology of future everyday life. Stimulated by recent technological progress and increasing regulatory clarity especially larger cities are anticipated to use drones for parcel and passenger transport hoping to relieve congested inner city traffic. Despite it is first and foremost the urban population that would be affected by accessing lower airspace, only few studies addressed the public perception of using transport drones. Aiming to fill the gap of attitudinal and acceptance research in the context of drones, the article embraces the subject by presenting qualitative results of a series of five focus groups conducted in three German cities. The analysis of discussions shows that participants were largely ambivalent towards the use of drones, putting special emphasis on a variety of object-related factors (safety and security, sustainability, usefulness), subject-related factors (general perception of technology) and also context-related factors (potential societal implications of drone technology). Framed by a discussion of identified acceptance factors in the context of the present scientific debate and assessing drones’ potential social implications the article provides a profound qualitative exploration into one of the most disruptive and controversial future technologies that may transform both the transport world and urban societies.  Los drones civiles y comerciales están a punto de convertirse en una tecnología clave de la vida cotidiana futura. Estimulado por recientes progresos tecnológicos y una mayor claridad regulatoria, especialmente las grandes ciudades están previendo el uso de drones para el transporte de paquetes y pasajeros con la esperanza de decongestionar el tráfico urbano. A pesar de que principalmente la población urbana se vería afectada por el uso del espacio aéreo cercano a la ciudad, solo pocos estudios abordaron la percepción y opinión pública sobre el uso de drones para el transporte. Con el objetivo de avanzar en la investigación sobre las actitudes y aceptaciones acerca de los drones, el artículo presenta resultados cualitativos de una serie de cinco grupos focales realizados en tres ciudades alemanas. El análisis de los grupos focales muestra que los participantes son ambivalentes respecto del uso de drones, poniendo énfasis en una variedad de factores objetivos (seguridad, sustentabilidad, utilidad), subjetivos (la percepción general sobre la tecnología) y contextuales (las potenciales implicaciones sociales de la tecnología de drones). Enmarcado en la discusión de los factores identificados en el contexto de los debates científicos actuales y evaluando las potenciales implicancias sociales de los drones, el artículo provee un profundo análisis cualitativo de una de las más disruptivas y controversiales tecnologías futuras, que podría transformar tanto el mundo del transporte como el de las sociedades urbanas

Drones for parcel and passenger transport: A qualitative exploration of public acceptance

Civil and commercial drones are on the verge of becoming a key technology of future everyday life. Stimulated by recent technological progress and increasing regulatory clarity especially larger cities are anticipated to use drones for parcel and passenger transport hoping to relieve congested inner city traffic. Despite it is first and foremost the urban population that would be affected by accessing lower airspace, only few studies addressed the public perception of using transport drones. Aiming to fill the gap of attitudinal and acceptance research in the context of drones, the article embraces the subject by presenting qualitative results of a series of five focus groups conducted in three German cities. The analysis of discussions shows that participants were largely ambivalent towards the use of drones, putting special emphasis on a variety of object-related factors (safety and security, sustainability, usefulness), subject-related factors (general perception of technology) and also context-related factors (potential societal implications of drone technology). Framed by a discussion of identified acceptance factors in the context of the present scientific debate and assessing drones’ potential social implications the article provides a profound qualitative exploration into one of the most disruptive and controversial future technologies that may transform both the transport world and urban societies.