Exploring the Factors Influencing Public Acceptance and Intention to Use Automated Drone Delivery Systems: A Trust Theory Approach

This paper examines the public perception and acceptance of automated delivery systems, i.e., drones. The study seeks to understand differences among demographic groups in their attitudes toward drones. We focus on the main perceived benefits and concerns related to drone adoption, and how they may shift over time. Two surveys were conducted, one during the pandemic and the other after the pandemic in Finland. The surveys, each comprising 500 participants, were designed to examine the development of public perception of drones. The surveys used a modified KAP-model approach to examine the public's knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards drones. Trust theory was also applied to understand human technology interaction with AI-powered automation. Moreover, two focus groups were conducted to qualitatively explore the underlying reasons behind public attitudes towards drones. The results indicate that participants demonstrated a considerable degree of receptiveness towards using drones for medical transportation. However, concerns about privacy violations, criminal usage of drones, and safety issues remained prevalent. The findings also revealed that demographic factors, such as age and gender, influenced attitudes towards drones. Younger populations and males were generally more positive about drones. The findings have implications for entrepreneurs, industry professionals, policymakers, and regulators, highlighting the need to address privacy and security concerns to gain public acceptance of drone delivery systems.