Towards Sustainable Mobility - Public Acceptance of Automated Last-Mile Deliveries

This paper examines the significance of public acceptance in the integration of automated last-mile delivery technologies, such as drones and delivery robots. To evaluate the public perception of automated last-mile deliveries, an online survey was conducted in Finland, comprising of 500 respondents. The findings of the survey revealed that the respondents displayed positive or neutral attitudes toward automated last-mile deliveries, emphasizing the advantages of affordability, efficiency, delivery tracking, and environmental sustainability. Notably, nearly half of the respondents expressed the importance of environmental friendliness in deliveries facilitated by drones or delivery robots. Overall, the respondents exhibited a predominantly positive or neutral attitude toward the proliferation of automated deliveries in their residential areas. In the specific Nordic context, drones were found to be slightly more favored than delivery robots although individuals residing in city centers or inner cities displayed lower inclination to utilize drone services compared to respondents residing in suburban or sparsely populated areas. The respondents indicated a preference for using delivery robots or drones primarily for home delivery of meals and grocery shopping. The study also underscores the necessity for intuitive designs and the consideration of privacy concerns in future research endeavors. Moreover, the paper elucidates the implications of HCI theoretical frameworks employed to comprehend users’ acceptance.