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Source: Sky Limits – WiD / TU Berlin / forsa | Survey period: 20 – 29 January 2020 | Based on 1,000 respondents | Results in per cent, differences can occur due to rounding
Traffic solution or technical hype?
Representative population survey on
delivery drones and air taxis
in Germany
www.skylimits.info
Background of the Sky Limits project
EINSTELLUNG GEGENÜBER LIEFERDROHNEN UND FLUGTAXIS 2
www.skylimits.info
Delivery drones and air taxis are no longer just science ction. In the
coming years it is intended that they will relieve the trafc situation on
the ground and aid sustainability. Politicians, commerce and community
organisations are currently engaged in hot debate on their potential use.
Germany’s Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer recently stated that the use
of delivery drones will become a reality in the next three years. But what
does the population feel about the use of delivery drones and air taxis in
urban airspace?
The Sky Limits project (“The sky is the limit – the future use of urban
airspace”, www.skylimits.info ) being carried out by Wissenschaft in Dialog
(WiD) and Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin) has obtained relevant
ndings on this question. This exploratory project aims to systematically
identify the chances and challenges presented by unmanned aerial
vehicles. It combines literature analysis, attitude research and the use
of participatory formats with experts and members of the public. In this
way the project aims to create a basis for discussion and also to develop
recommendations for practical action on the part of politicians, planners
and the commercial sector. Sky Limits is funded by the Federal Ministry
of Education and Research (BMBF) as part of its Innovation and Technical
Analysis (ITA) initiative.
The project’s attitude research was carried out in two stages. It focused
primarily on examining the population’s attitudes towards delivery drones
and air taxis and assessing the extent to which individuals would use these.
First of all, in autumn 2019, WiD and TU Berlin
commissioned the opinion research institute forsa to run ve focus groups
in Berlin, Stuttgart and Erfurt in order to gain an initial qualitative insight
into the opinions of the population (see page 3). The project team then
commissioned forsa to carry out a telephone survey of 1,000 people
between 20 and 29 January 2020.
The survey reveals the attitudes and personal usage intentions of the
respondents regarding delivery drones and air taxis. Furthermore, it
provides information showing which factors exert a substantial influence
on the attitudes of the respondents towards delivery drones and air taxis
and which advantages and disadvantages are seen as being particularly
relevant. It also offers insights relating to the sex and age of the
respondents.
Taken together, the data presented here provide the most extensive view so
far of population attitudes to transport drones. The research results as a
whole show that the population is sceptical with regard to delivery drones
and air taxis and that most people would rather not use them personally.
The results also clearly show that aspects such as environmental
friendliness and safety are particularly critical for most respondents. At the
same time, major doubts are apparent in relation to potential job losses and
the noise and stress caused by delivery drones and air taxis.
Voices from the preliminary focus groups...
...on the general attitude:
“I’d nd it practical and innovative, it's kind of exciting,
I'd like to try it out" [Stuttgart I].
When I imagine looking out of here, and there’d be things buzzing
about everywhere, that's not really what I want” [Erfurt].
...on factors influencing the attitudes of the respondents:
“Not just that the cities are all full of rubbish, but that up there
everywhere is full of rubbish too and then we live on a kind of
rubbish planet" [Berlin II].
“I have to be honest, if I get a carpet delivered and the carpet
falls down and lands on a child who gets injured […]
I’d be devastated” [Berlin I].
...on possible disadvantages of the technologies:
“We already have so much noise pollution in the city because
of the trafc and then that as well. That's denitely going to
be really loud too.” [Stuttgart II].
www.skylimits.info
...on personal usage intentions:
“At the moment I’m not really in favour,
but I know I’d use it all the same” [Berlin II].
“I think it’s astonishing that there are no pilots any more.
I’m not sure if I’d be prepared to put myself at the mercy
of the technology like that” [Berlin I].
...on possible advantages of the technologies:
“Especially at rush-hours and peak times here in the inner city
and places like this, you can easily take half or three quarters
of an hour to get from one corner to the other, and with one of
those it would take ve minutes” [Stuttgart II].
“Up to a certain size the ecological footprint is probably better
than with classic parcel delivery lorries” [Stuttgart II].
EINSTELLUNG GEGENÜBER LIEFERDROHNEN UND FLUGTAXIS 3
These comments were made in German and have been translated into English.
Source: Sky Limits focus groups – WiD / TU Berlin / forsa
Basis: Five focus groups, each with eight participants and of 90 minutes’ duration | Dates and places: 19.09.2019 (Berlin), 30.09.2019 (Stuttgart) and 02.10.2019 (Erfurt).
In Berlin and Stuttgart two focus groups with different age groups (18-44 years and 45-65 years) were conducted in each case.
Source: Sky Limits – WiD / TU Berlin / forsa | Survey period: 20 – 29 January 2020 | Based on 1,000 respondents | Results in per cent, differences can occur due to rounding
How much would you agree with the
following statements about parcel deliveries
with drones and air taxis?
Most respondents were opposed to the use of
delivery drones and air taxis. Only 25 per cent
agreed that drones should be used to deliver
consumer goods and products. Only 21 per
cent agreed that air taxis should be used for
general passenger transport.
In contrast to the generally adverse attitude
to their general use, the great majority
of respondents approved of their use in
medical emergencies. Almost two thirds of
respondents agreed with using them for such
purposes as rapid delivery of medicines or
transport to hospital.
•strongly agree •somewhat agree •neither agree nor disagree
•somewhat disagree •strongly disagree •don’t know / no answer
1
Drones should only be used in emergencies,
e.g. for fast delivery of medicines.
Air taxis should only be used in medical emergencies,
e.g. for fast transport to hospital.
1213 3421
112241 15 11
122441 10 13
In future drones should be used to deliver
consumer goods and products.
Air taxis should be used for general passenger transportation
and thus for individual mobility.
1011 17 4022
19
ATTITUDE TOWARDS DELIVERY DRONES AND AIR TAXIS 4
www.skylimits.info
Source: Sky Limits – WiD / TU Berlin / forsa | Survey period: 20 – 29 January 2020 | Based on 1,000 respondents | Results in per cent, differences can occur due to rounding
How much would you agree with the
following statements about parcel deliveries
with drones and air taxis?
ATTITUDES TOWARDS DELIVERY DRONES AND AIR TAXIS BY GENDER OF RESPONDENTS 5
The basic sceptical attitude towards delivery
drones and air taxis is also apparent in
relation to whether drones should not be put
to use at all as a matter of principle.
It is generally known from research
into acceptance that men normally rate
technology more positively than women.
This is also apparent in relation to delivery
drones and air taxis. Female respondents
agreed more often than male respondents
with the statement that delivery drones and
air taxis should not be put to use at all as a
matter of principle. A similar difference is
also apparent in relation to the question of
whether delivery drones and air taxis should
be used to deliver consumer goods and
products or for general passenger transport.
In addition, men would be more likely to use
both these forms of technology than women.
www.skylimits.info
Air taxis should not be put to use at all as a matter of principle.
1
923 17 2723
Drones should not be put to use for parcel deliveries at all as a matter of principle.
1O20 16 3223
male
total
female
927 19 2223
1
male
24620 15 35
female
22928 20 21 1
total
23823 17 28
1
•strongly agree •somewhat agree •neither agree nor disagree
•somewhat disagree •strongly disagree •don’t know / no answer
Source: Sky Limits – WiD / TU Berlin / forsa | Survey period: 20 – 29 January 2020 | Based on 1,000 respondents | Results in per cent, differences can occur due to rounding
PERSONAL INTENTION TO USE DELIVERY DRONES AND AIR TAXIS 6
The personal intention to use delivery drones
and air taxis was fairly low in accordance
with the generally negative attitude of the
respondents towards them. A great majority
of respondents rejected individual use. Only
21 per cent would use drones to deliver
consumer goods and only 18 per cent would
use air taxis for their individual mobility.
The individual intention to use these
technologies was different where medical
emergencies are concerned. In this case,
more than one in two was in favour.
www.skylimits.info
To what extent would you agree
with the following statements
about your personal use?
Personally, I would use drones in emergencies only
e.g. for the fast delivery of medicines.
Personally, I would use air taxis in emergencies only
e.g. for fast transport to hospital.
813 11 4622
102238 12 18
122334 13 19
Personally, I would generally use drones
for the delivery of consumer goods.
Personally, I would generally use air taxis
for my individual mobility.
711 10 5220
•strongly agree •somewhat agree •neither agree nor disagree
•somewhat disagree •strongly disagree •don’t know / no answer
Source: Sky Limits – WiD / TU Berlin / forsa | Survey period: 20 – 29 January 2020 | Based on 1,000 respondents | Results in per cent, differences can occur due to rounding
To what extent would you agree
with the following statements
with regard to your personal use?
PERSONAL INTENTION TO USE BY AGE OF RESPONDENTS 7
The intention to use drones differs considera-
bly according to the age of the respondents.
From research into acceptance of technology,
it is generally known that older people are
normally more sceptical of new technologies
than younger people. This was also apparent
in relation to air taxis. The survey shows that
respondents aged between 30 and 39 years
were more than three times more likely to
want to use air taxis for their personal mo-
bility than respondents aged over 60 years.
A similar response pattern was also found
for personal use of delivery drones and with
regard to general attitudes to delivery drones
and air taxis.
It is interesting that older respondents tended
to be more positive than younger respondents
towards the use of delivery drones and air
taxis in medical emergencies.
Personally, I would generally use air taxis for my individual mobility.
50 – 59 Jahre
60 + Jahre
1115 15 25 34
21
21
6
3
10
6
9
9
53
62
18 – 29 Jahre
30 – 39 Jahre
920 15 3720
40 – 49 Jahre
161012 952 1
www.skylimits.info
•strongly agree •somewhat agree •neither agree nor disagree
•somewhat disagree •strongly disagree •don’t know / no answer
Source: Sky Limits – WiD / TU Berlin / forsa | Survey period: 20 – 29 January 2020 | Based on 1,000 respondents | Results in per cent, differences can occur due to rounding
CHANGES TO QUALITY OF LIFE 8
The respondents gave ambivalent responses
on how delivery drones and air taxis would
affect quality of life in cities. 40 per cent
agreed either somewhat or strongly that
delivery drones would make cities less
pleasant to live in. However, 27 per cent
agreed either somewhat or strongly that
delivery drones would have a positive effect
on quality of life.
In comparison, the effects of air taxis were
seen as slightly more negative. Altogether, 43
per cent were of the view that air taxis would
make cities less pleasant to live in while
22 per cent said that air taxis would have
positive effects on quality of life in cities.
Parcel deliveries with drones would make cities
less pleasant to live in.
Passenger transport with air taxis would make cities
less pleasant to live in.
1512 20 2923
231723 18 18
201627 20 16
Parcel deliveries with drones would have a positive effect
on the quality of life in cities.
Passenger transport with air taxis would have a positive effect
on the quality of life in cities.
1210 21 3124
2
2
2
2
www.skylimits.info
To what extent would you agree
with the following statements?
•strongly agree •somewhat agree •neither agree nor disagree
•somewhat disagree •strongly disagree •don’t know / no answer
Source: Sky Limits – WiD / TU Berlin / forsa | Survey period: 20 – 29 January 2020 | Based on 1,000 respondents | Results in per cent, differences can occur due to rounding
SAFETY AND RISK OF ACCIDENTS 9
Most respondents rated delivery drones and
air taxis as not safe. Only less than a quarter
imagined delivery drones and air taxis as
being safe. Furthermore, the great majority
of respondents expected that delivery drones
and air taxis would lead to accidents in which
people were injured.
When the two applications were compared it
also became clear that the respondents felt
the risk of accidents to be greater with air
taxis than with delivery drones. While 75 per
cent agreed either strongly or somewhat that
delivery drones could lead to accidents in
which people were injured, 81 per cent agreed
with this statement with regard to air taxis.
Parcel deliveries with drones could result in accidents in which people are injured.
Passenger transport with air taxis could result in accidents in which people are injured.
1310 23 3024
83144 13 3
32853 13 2
I think parcel deliveries with drones would be safe.
I think passenger transport with air taxis would be safe.
16822 2825 1
2
1
1
www.skylimits.info
To what extent would you agree
with the following statements?
•strongly agree •somewhat agree •neither agree nor disagree
•somewhat disagree •strongly disagree •don’t know / no answer
Source: Sky Limits – WiD / TU Berlin / forsa | Survey period: 20 – 29 January 2020 | Based on 1,000 respondents | Results in per cent, differences can occur due to rounding
PERSONAL USE IN EVERYDAY LIFE 10
The great majority of respondents disagreed
or mostly disagreed that delivery drones or air
taxis would be advantageous to them in their
with this statement.
At the same time it was apparent that two
thirds of the respondents did not see any
added value for themselves in the technology.
This applies both for delivery drones and for
air taxis: a majority doubted whether drone
technology meant added value.
Parcel deliveries with drones would not have added value for me personally.
Passenger transport with air taxis would not have added value for me personally.
1112 16 3724
Parcel deliveries with drones would bring me advantages in everyday life.
Passenger transport with air taxis would bring me advantages in everyday life.
10912 4325 1
1
1650 10 1311 1
1650 10 1212 1
www.skylimits.info
•••
•••don’t know / no answer
To what extent would you agree
with the following statements?
Source: Sky Limits – WiD / TU Berlin / forsa | Survey period: 20 – 29 January 2020 | Based on 1,000 respondents | Results in per cent, differences can occur due to rounding
ADVANTAGES OF DELIVERY DRONES 11
Environmental friendliness (79 per cent)
and reliability (73 per cent) were particularly
important to the respondents. On average,
these two aspects were the most important
advantages. Almost half of the respondents
also indicated that it would be somewhat
important or very important to them that
parcels were delivered at a precise time of
their choice and delivered quickly.
However, a majority of respondents felt it
was not important to be able to have parcels
delivered by drones to the place of their choice.
•very important •somewhat important •neither important nor unimportant
•somewhat unimportant •not important at all •don’t know / no answer
... that your parcels were delivered at a precise time of your own choice?
... that your parcels were delivered quickly?
... that, with drones, you could have your parcels delivered to a place
of your choice, e.g. balcony or garden?
2455 8 84
192620 13 21
212318 20 18
201714 11 37
... that parcel deliveries with drones were environment-friendly?
... that parcel deliveries with drones were reliable?
2053 7136 1
1
1
www.skylimits.info
In order for you to have parcels delivered
to yourself by drones, how important
would it be for you personally...
Source: Sky Limits – WiD / TU Berlin / forsa | Survey period: 20 – 29 January 2020 | Based on 1,000 respondents | Results in per cent, differences can occur due to rounding
ADVANTAGES OF AIR TAXIS 12
82 per cent of all respondents indicated that it
was somewhat important or very important to
them that air taxis were environmentally friend-
ly. It was apparent overall that environmental
friendliness was a particularly relevant aspect
for the respondents regardless of the drone
application involved.
Almost two out of three respondents also
found it somewhat important or very important
that they would no longer need to wait in trafc
jams with an air taxi and that the air taxi would
take them exactly to a place of their choice.
About one in two respondents indicated that it
was somewhat important or very important to
them that air taxis would save them time and
that the use of air taxis was inexpensive.
In order for you to use air taxis
in your own everyday life, how important
would it be for you personally…
... that the air taxi would take you exactly to a place of your choice?
... that you would save time with an air taxi?
... that the use of air taxis was inexpensive?
2161 6 83
112536 920
13
11
29
25
25
24
12
19
21
19
... that air taxis were environment-friendly?
... that you would not have to wait in trafc jams with an air taxi?
2439 9189 2
1
1
1
1
www.skylimits.info
•very important •somewhat important •neither important nor unimportant
•somewhat unimportant •not important at all •don’t know / no answer
Source: Sky Limits – WiD / TU Berlin / forsa | Survey period: 20 – 29 January 2020 | Based on 1,000 respondents | Results in per cent, differences can occur due to rounding
DISADVANTAGES OF DELIVERY DRONES 13
Possible job losses, noise and the stress
resulting from delivery drones were seen as
being the greatest disadvantages. More than
two out of three respondents found it quite
bad or very bad that delivery drivers would
lose their jobs as a result of parcel delivery
with drones. Similarly, almost two thirds
of respondents rated the stress and noise
caused by the flying delivery drones as quite
bad or very bad.
58 per cent felt it would be quite bad or
very bad if drones were to block their
unobstructed view of the sky.
One in two rated the possible loss of personal
contact between recipients and delivery
drivers as less bad or not bad.
Assuming a lot of people were to use drones
for parcel deliveries in German towns,
how bad would you find…
•very bad •quite bad •so-so
•less bad •not at all bad •don’t know / no answer
1
1
... the noise caused by parcel deliveries with drones?
... the fact that parcel deliveries with drones
would block your unobstructed view of the sky?
... the fact that parcel deliveries with drones would mean
the personal contact between recipient and delivery driver would disappear?
2345 17 510
92442 18 4
16
26
17
14
41
17
16
17
10
25
... the fact that delivery drivers would lose their jobs
as a result of parcel deliveries with drones?
... the stress caused by drones flying around delivering parcels?
2344 16 611
1
2
www.skylimits.info
Source: Sky Limits – WiD / TU Berlin / forsa | Survey period: 20 – 29 January 2020 | Based on 1,000 respondents | Results in per cent, differences can occur due to rounding
DISADVANTAGES OF AIR TAXIS 14
The respondents rated the noise (75 per cent)
and stress (73 per cent) caused by air taxis as
quite bad or very bad particularly often. These
disadvantages also received similar ratings in
the case of delivery drones. A similar proportion
of respondents rated as quite bad or very
bad the fact that air taxis would block their
uninterrupted view of the sky. This response
was given by 66 per cent of respondents,
a higher proportion than for delivery drones
(58 per cent).
Two thirds of the respondents rated possible
job losses as negative. This applies both for taxi
drivers in relation to air taxis (66 per cent) and
for delivery drivers in relation to delivery drones
(68 per cent).
By comparison, the loss of personal contact
between client and taxi driver or delivery driver
were rated less badly in both application areas.
Assuming a lot of people were to use air taxis
in German towns, how bad would you find…
1
1
... the fact that air taxis would block your unobstructed view of the sky?
... the fact that taxi drivers would lose their jobs as a result of air taxis?
... the fact that air taxis would mean the personal contact
between client and taxi driver would disappear?
2451 13 38 2
142145 13 7
10
25
25
15
41
22
17
16
6
22
... the noise caused by air taxis?
... the stress that air taxis could cause when flying around?
2548 13 59
1
www.skylimits.info
•very bad •quite bad •so-so
•less bad •not at all bad •don’t know / no answer
Source: Sky Limits – WiD / TU Berlin / forsa | Survey period: 20 – 29 January 2020 | Based on 1,000 respondents | Results in per cent, differences can occur due to rounding
POSSIBLE REGULATION 15
In an open question respondents were asked to express
all their thoughts about regulations by politicians to
integrate both technology applications into city air
space. The responses show a great need for clear
regulation of the use of drone technology.
More than one third of respondents mentioned aspects
of air space management (e.g. air corridors, air
regulation in general (e.g. insurance and liability, drone
of technical aspects. It was also striking that, when
answering the open question, around one tenth of
respondents expressed their rejection of the technology
and did not mention any rules for this reason.
What rules would politicians have to establish
so that drones could become part of
inner city traffic in Germany?
General regulation
Nothing, I’m against drones
Data protection rules
Noise prevention rules
Protection of animals
and the environment
Adjustments to infrastructure
Driving license requirement
Authorisation of drones
in exceptions only
35,5
8,0
13,7
7,3
20,7
7,5
6,5
9,5
7,1
www.skylimits.info
5,2
5,0
Multiple responses were possible.
Source: Sky Limits – WiD / TU Berlin / forsa | Survey period: 20 – 29 January 2020 | Based on 1,000 respondents | Results in per cent, differences can occur due to rounding
Data on the representative
population survey
German speaking population living in private households in
the Federal Republic of Germany and aged 18 years or over
1,000 people
The survey was carried out by telephone interview
(dual-frame using mobile and landline telephony in the
ratio 30:70) in the period between 20 and 29 January 2020.
The interviews were carried out by the opinion
research institute forsa.
The respondents in the landline sample were selected
by means of multistage random sampling based on the
ADM telephone sampling system. The respondents in the
mobile phone sample were selected by means of multistage
random sampling based on the sampling system for mobile
telephony established in 2005 by the ADM working group
on sampling (Arbeitsgemeinschaft ADM-Stichproben) and
updated annually.
The Sky Limits project took a mixed methods approach.
First of all, ve focus groups were held in Berlin, Stuttgart
and Erfurt on 19 and 30 September 2019 and 2 October
2019. The questionnaire was designed on the basis of their
ndings. It was administered in a fully structured computer
assisted telephone interview (CATI). The general working
instructions, to which all forsa interviewers adhere, ensured
that the interviews were carried out consistently.
Parent population
Number of people
interviewed
Type and dates
of interviews
Sample selection
Procedure
Weighting and
representativity
Documentation
Deviations from the population structure were weighted
using data from ofcial statistics to correspond with the
structure of the German-speaking general population
of Germany aged 18 years and over. Weighting ensured
that the composition of the sample used for evaluation
corresponded with the structure of the parent population.
The results of the study are thus representative and can be
used within the limits of statistical error tolerance to make
generalisations about the parent population. In this study
the error tolerance was +/-3 percentage points.
The original questionnaire text and all the results are
accessible online at www.skylimits.info/ergebnisberichte-
umfrage-englisch/
www.skylimits.info
MÖGLICHE REGULIERUNGEN 16
Publisher:
Sky Limits project
Wissenschaft im Dialog
Charlottenstraße 80
10117 Berlin
Germany
Tel +49 30 2062295-0
www.wissenschaft-im-dialog.de
Technische Universität Berlin
Work, Technology and Participation
Mobility Research Cluster
Marchstraße 23
10587 Berlin
Germany
Tel +49 30 314-24373
www.arte.tu-berlin.de
The Sky Limits project is funded by
Contact:
Sky Limits coordinator
Robin Kellermann
robin.kellermann@tu-berlin.de
Sky Limits project leader
Nico Dannenberger
nico.dannenberger@w-i-d.de
Design:
www.sinnwerkstatt.com
Translation:
www.makesense-translation.de
DOI:
10.13140/RG.2.2.17542.40003
