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Published on: August 27, 2021
Risk Perception and the Public Acceptance of Drones
Reece A Clothier1, Dominique A Greer2, Duncan G Greer3
1Sir Lawrence Wackett Aerospace Research Centre, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, 3001, Australia.
The Australian public has a neutral perception of drones, viewing them as similar in risk to manned aircraft. Increased public knowledge and industry communication will shape future acceptance of drone technology.
Area of Science:
- Aviation technology
- Public perception studies
- Risk assessment
Background:
- Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), or drones, represent a growing aviation sector.
- Substantive research on public perception and acceptance of drones remains limited.
- Understanding public attitudes is crucial for the integration of drone technology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate Australian public perception of drone risks compared to manned aviation.
- To assess the influence of terminology on public perception of drones.
- To identify broader concerns affecting public acceptance of drone technology.
Main Methods:
- Two surveys conducted with the Australian public.
- Investigated perceived risk, impact of terminology, and general concerns.
- Qualitative and quantitative analysis of survey responses.
Main Results:
- The Australian public holds a neutral attitude towards drones.
- Drones are perceived as comparable in risk to manned aviation.
- Terminology had a minimal effect on risk perception or acceptability.
- Lack of knowledge was the primary public concern, followed by privacy, military use, and misuse.
Conclusions:
- Public opinion on drones is not yet established and is likely to evolve with increased knowledge.
- Industry communication and media coverage will significantly influence public acceptance.
- Addressing public knowledge gaps is key to shaping informed opinions on drone technology.
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