Exploring Turbulence Impact on Passenger Experience in Urban Air Mobility: Insights from a Virtual Reality Study

Urban Air Mobility (UAM) has the potential to revolutionize the way we travel. As transportation evolves, passenger drones, also known as air taxis, are poised to integrate into our daily mobility routines. Ensuring the overall safety of these aerial vehicles through air traffic certification and operational air traffic control is paramount. It is crucial to identify and evaluate problematic scenarios that may arise during operation, particularly their impact on passenger acceptance and user experience (UX). Critical situations can emerge, potentially causing passenger distress and, in worst-case scenarios, posing safety risks. Due to their lower flight weight and altitude, turbulence plays a significantly more prominent role for these vehicles compared to larger passenger aircraft. To address this issue, we have undertaken a virtual reality study designed to explore turbulence experiences during flight. This research primarily concentrates on evaluating passengers’ safety perceptions and examining the efficacy of various mitigation and calming strategies. These strategies include but are not limited to, breathing exercises and the deployment of a supportive avatar. The study aims to gain a deeper understanding of passenger responses to in-flight turbulence and to assess the potential of these interventions to enhance passenger comfort and safety. Preliminary findings indicate that calming animations and breathing exercises can have a positive impact on passengers’ perception of safety. The insights gained from this research aim to contribute to the development of support measures for all types of critical flight situations.