Building public trust towards drone identification system

quietdrones2026 Tracking Number 14

Drones or UAVs are becoming more widely used in emergency response, infrastructure inspection, logistics, and the creative industries. However, public acceptance of drones remains uneven, particularly when individuals unexpectedly encounter drones flying nearby. While many people express curiosity, others report discomfort or negative reactions due to concerns about for example privacy, safety, and potential misuse. Meanwhile, public support is generally higher for drones used for societal benefits such as search-and-rescue, medical delivery, and firefighting rather than for leisure or commercial activities. This sentiment difference highlights a need for mechanisms that can foster transparency, accountability, and trust in drone operations. One proposed solution is a drone identification system that enables the public to access key information about nearby drones in real time. Such a system could help address uncertainty by allowing individuals to identify who is operating the drone and for what purpose. However, limited research has investigated how the public perceives this kind of system, what information they expect to access, and whether such transparency tools could meaningfully enhance trust and acceptance. This study explores public perceptions, expectations, and concerns related to a drone identification system through a qualitative focus group methodology. A series of workshop-style sessions were conducted with members of the public, incorporating role-play scenarios that simulate realistic encounters with drones operated by different stakeholders (e.g., hobbyists, commercial operators, emergency services, and government agencies). Participants interacted with draft concepts of a potential identification interface and discussed the types of information they would want to access, how they would interpret it, and how it might influence their trust in the drone and its operator. Preliminary findings suggest that transparency about operator identity and purpose plays a critical role in shaping acceptance, especially in urban and residential environments. Participants emphasised the importance of easily accessible, non-technical information and expressed support for systems that clearly distinguish responsible, authorised operations from potentially unsafe or intrusive activities. This research contributes to emerging discussions on public-centred approaches to drone regulation and demonstrates how identification technologies may be designed to enhance societal trust as drone operations become more prevalent in everyday life.