Drones for parcel and passenger transportation: A literature review
Delivery drones and ‘air taxis’ are currently among the most intensely discussed emerging technologies, likely to expand mobility into the ‘third dimension’ of low-level airspace. This paper presents a systematic literature review of 111 interdisciplinary publications (2013 - 03/2019). The review sy...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2020-03-01
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| Series: | Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590198219300879 |
| _version_ | 1818027919728967680 |
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| author | Robin Kellermann Tobias Biehle Liliann Fischer |
| author_facet | Robin Kellermann Tobias Biehle Liliann Fischer |
| author_sort | Robin Kellermann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Delivery drones and ‘air taxis’ are currently among the most intensely discussed emerging technologies, likely to expand mobility into the ‘third dimension’ of low-level airspace. This paper presents a systematic literature review of 111 interdisciplinary publications (2013 - 03/2019). The review systematizes the current socio-technical debate on civil drones for transportation purposes allowing for a (critical) interim assessment. To guide the review process four dimensions of analysis were defined. A total of 2581 relevant quotations were subdivided into anticipated barriers (426), potential problems (1037), proposed solutions (737) and expected benefits (381). We found that the debate is characterized by predominantly technical and regulatory problems and barriers which are considered to prevent or impede the use of drones for parcel and passengers transportation. At the same time, definite economic expectations are juxtaposed with quite complex and differentiated concerns regarding societal and environmental impacts. Scrutinizing the most prevalent transportation-related promises of traffic reduction, travel time saving and environmental relief we found that there is a strong need to provide scientific evidence for the promises linked to the use of drones for transportation. We conclude that the debate on drones for transportation needs further qualification, emphasizing societal benefits and public involvement more strongly. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T04:55:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f07369c300364dbab40373d8c0c92bf6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2590-1982 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T04:55:33Z |
| publishDate | 2020-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives |
| spelling | doaj.art-f07369c300364dbab40373d8c0c92bf62022-12-22T02:01:30ZengElsevierTransportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives2590-19822020-03-014Drones for parcel and passenger transportation: A literature reviewRobin Kellermann0Tobias Biehle1Liliann Fischer2Technical University Berlin, Department Work, Technology and Participation, Cluster Mobility Research, MAR 1-1, Marchstraße 23, 10587 Berlin, Germany; Corresponding author.Technical University Berlin, Department Work, Technology and Participation, Cluster Mobility Research, MAR 1-1, Marchstraße 23, 10587 Berlin, GermanyWissenschaft im Dialog gGmbH, Charlottenstraße 80, 10117 Berlin, GermanyDelivery drones and ‘air taxis’ are currently among the most intensely discussed emerging technologies, likely to expand mobility into the ‘third dimension’ of low-level airspace. This paper presents a systematic literature review of 111 interdisciplinary publications (2013 - 03/2019). The review systematizes the current socio-technical debate on civil drones for transportation purposes allowing for a (critical) interim assessment. To guide the review process four dimensions of analysis were defined. A total of 2581 relevant quotations were subdivided into anticipated barriers (426), potential problems (1037), proposed solutions (737) and expected benefits (381). We found that the debate is characterized by predominantly technical and regulatory problems and barriers which are considered to prevent or impede the use of drones for parcel and passengers transportation. At the same time, definite economic expectations are juxtaposed with quite complex and differentiated concerns regarding societal and environmental impacts. Scrutinizing the most prevalent transportation-related promises of traffic reduction, travel time saving and environmental relief we found that there is a strong need to provide scientific evidence for the promises linked to the use of drones for transportation. We conclude that the debate on drones for transportation needs further qualification, emphasizing societal benefits and public involvement more strongly.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590198219300879DronesUAVLogisticsPassenger transportationLiterature reviewContent analysis |
| spellingShingle | Robin Kellermann Tobias Biehle Liliann Fischer Drones for parcel and passenger transportation: A literature review Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives Drones UAV Logistics Passenger transportation Literature review Content analysis |
| title | Drones for parcel and passenger transportation: A literature review |
| title_full | Drones for parcel and passenger transportation: A literature review |
| title_fullStr | Drones for parcel and passenger transportation: A literature review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Drones for parcel and passenger transportation: A literature review |
| title_short | Drones for parcel and passenger transportation: A literature review |
| title_sort | drones for parcel and passenger transportation a literature review |
| topic | Drones UAV Logistics Passenger transportation Literature review Content analysis |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590198219300879 |
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