When the Drone Is in Your Backyard

The idea of using unmanned aircraft systems, or drones, to deliver goods to consumers has attracted increasing enthusiasm over the last several years. A handful of companies have launched trial services, and there is a widespread expectation that drone deliveries will eventually become a routine. This early point in the emergence of a new technology presents an opportunity to examine the complexity of public attitudes toward innovation. Christiansburg VA, a town of roughly 22,000 people, is the site of the most advanced residential drone delivery trial in the US, launched by the Alphabet subsidiary Wing in Oct 2019. Virginia Tech researchers conducted a survey in Nov 2020 to assess the community's sentiment. Wing provided funding for the mailing, promotion, and incentives, but was not otherwise involved. Previous surveys gauging public interest in drone delivery in the general population have consistently found negative overall attitudes and common concerns about privacy and safety. The Christiansburg survey, however, was the first time public sentiment had been evaluated in a community with direct experience with the technology.