The Future of UAVs in Urban Air Mobility: Public Perception and Concerns

Abstract

This study aims to examine the public perception of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in the context of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and evaluate the widespread acceptance and applicability of this new technology. In this study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 82 participants residing in the provinces of Istanbul and Ankara. The data obtained were analyzed using the thematic analysis method to categorize participants' views about UAVs in a specific structure. As a result of this analysis, participant views were categorized into three main themes: positive views, negative views, and neutral perspectives. Among the positive views, participants' expectations regarding the emergency use of UAVs stand out. In the negative views, concerns about the security and potential risks of UAVs took the lead, while mixed thoughts about the impact of UAVs on society, legal regulations, and technological development formed the neutral category.