Exploring the public perception of sound of medical delivery drones in Scotland. An online listening test approach

Abstract

Drones are a relatively new technology which has the potential to improve delivery times and reduce the carbon footprint of distribution networks. The transportation of urgent medical supplies is an example of a positive community impact of this technology, particularly to remote and island locations that currently rely on slow and inefficient road transport and connecting ferry ports or traditional aviation. There is limited data available on the public perception of the sound that drones create during overflights or manoeuvres. When it comes to drones used for healthcare purposes (as opposed to package delivery), this is the very first sound study globally. Drones have a more tonal noise signature, and are potentially more annoying, which is a concern for noise and health professionals and presents significant risks to the introduction and economic viability of this technology. This paper describes a methodology developed to use online listening tests to capture people's responses to the sound of drones for the specific context of medical supply delivery.