Public perception of remotely piloted aircraft systems in Canada
Technological developments in the areas of robotics, autonomous flight controls, sensory equipment, and energy storage have enabled the rise of the commercial drone industry. Drones, also referred to as remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) are a versatile tool used in applications ranging from g...
Saved in:
| Published in: | Technology in society Vol. 73; p. 102242 |
|---|---|
| Main Authors: | , , |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier Ltd
01-05-2023
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Get full text |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | Technological developments in the areas of robotics, autonomous flight controls, sensory equipment, and energy storage have enabled the rise of the commercial drone industry. Drones, also referred to as remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) are a versatile tool used in applications ranging from geological surveying to package delivery and vary in size from a few grams to several tons. With their increasing utilization by individuals, corporations, and the government, more must be done to understand how the public perceives their use. Studies have been performed all over the world and show an increasing level of support for drones, largely due to greater awareness of their existence and how they work. The last major survey performed in Canada was done in 2014 and found the public was rather opposed to the use of drones and preferred traditionally piloted aircraft in all 38 applications polled. Much has changed over the past eight years as the findings presented herein show the public is supportive of the technology in most applications. Factors leading to a higher level of support included age, gender, prior drone knowledge, and being a user of the technology. Applications of drones that were perceived to further the public interest such as search and rescue, firefighting, and climate research were also viewed more positively. Most drone user groups were viewed favorably except for journalists and corporations. Together, these results show the changing sentiment and opinions of Canadians and can be of use to industry stakeholders and governments for effectively using drones and developing policies to regulate them.
•The public is significantly more supportive of RPAS than in past Canadian studies.•The term “drone” is mostly associated with small commercial RPAS.•Participants were more supportive of drones than UAVs, suggesting a term influence.•Only three of the thirteen missions received more than 10% opposition.•Older individuals were more supportive of RPAS use when given the use circumstances. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0160-791X 1879-3274 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.techsoc.2023.102242 |