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Human interactions with delivery drones in public spaces: design recommendations from recipient and bystander perspectives

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Drones will likely deliver packages in public spaces, where humans interact as recipients of the package and as bystanders passing by. Understanding the human needs and uncertainties that may arise during these interactions is crucial to ensure safety. This user-centered design study employed twelve interviews and four focus groups to identify key requirements for recipients and bystanders interacting with delivery drones in public spaces. Findings demonstrate different information needs and preferred interface modalities between recipients and bystanders across various interaction stages, from ordering a package to the drone's retraction after delivery. This paper highlights essential design features and offers concrete design recommendations based on the interaction requirements. These recommendations can inform the standardization and customization of design features for each interaction stage, enhancing safety and facilitating natural human-drone interaction. Future research should build on these recommendations and validate the design concepts through experimental user studies involving human interactions with delivery drones in public spaces.

Source: Frontiers in Robotics and AI

DOI: 10.3389/frobt.2025.1580289

Authors: Shiva Nischal Lingam, Rutger Verstegen, Sebastiaan M. Petermeijer, Marieke Martens

Institutions: Netherlands Aerospace Centre, Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research

Language: English

Topic: Social Robot Interaction and HRI

Subfield: Social Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,353