Community noise from a drone delivery distribution center: challenges and options
Time: 2:40 pm
Author: Jacob Poling
Abstract ID: 1652
As drone package delivery services are expanded, community noise will be an issue that every operator will need to consider. Drones represent a unique new community noise source that will operate and be perceived differently than traditional aircraft and ground transportation vehicles. It is also likely that some early implementations of drone delivery services by major retailers will operate out of existing distribution centers, which may not be ideally located from a noise perspective. This study considers potential drone delivery noise in the community surrounding an existing distribution center, assuming the facility were to be utilized as the hub of a future drone package delivery service. The predicted noise levels from drone deliveries are compared to typical community noise limits, and potential alternative noise metrics for assessing annoyance from drone noise in communities are discussed. Options to reduce community noise from drone deliveries by altering flight altitude and speed, utilizing different flight path routing strategies, and taking advantage of the potential masking of drones by existing roadway noise are considered.
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Community Acceptance of Drone Noise
Time: 2:20 pm
Author: Erich Thalheimer
Abstract ID: 1694
Within the next five years, small package delivery drones and larger human passenger drones will become the next mode of transportation to fill our environment with noise. They are already being used in test markets around the world to gauge community acceptance of the concept; none the least of which being the noise generated by these drones. In fact, along with safety, noise is the prime concern for gaining acceptance and regulatory approval for widespread use of drones. Title 14 CFR Part 36 contains FAA's current certification requirements for drone flyover noise at the source. But what about receiver noise criteria? This paper will describe some of the prototype drones in use today, the major manufacturers and drone delivery services already well into development, and the current federal regulatory setting for community noise in the United States for various modes of transportation. The paper concludes with a recommended noise criteria approach, for FAA to consider adopting, that would provide a balance between the drone manufacturers' need to produce noise with the community's need for peace and quiet.
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Attack of the Drones Exploration of Sound Power Levels Emitted and the Impact Drones could have upon Rural Areas, Roxwell, Essex, UK
Time: 2:00 pm
Author: Josephine Nixon
Abstract ID: 1848
This study considers the acoustic emission from a DJi Phantom 4 commercial drone using different rotor blades. Measurements were taken from a hovering drone with four commercial product blade configurations. Measurements were taken in accordance with (BS) EN ISO 3745: 2009 Acoustics Determination of sound power levels and sound energy levels of noise sources using sound pressure Precision methods for anechoic rooms and hemi-anechoic rooms. The aim of the project was to consider the sound characteristics emitted, specifically tonality and to determine the distance a drone could be heard from, with the different blade configurations, in a rural setting. By considering the different blade configurations within a rural setting, the role drones have within society is considered.
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Examination of spectral content, peak frequency relationships, and annoyance for unmanned aerial vehicle operations
Time: 3:00 pm
Author: Judy Rochat
Abstract ID: 2222
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can be used for many purposes, servicing delivery, recreational, utility inspection, and film industries, among others. For some applications, use of UAVs can expose communities to a type of noise not currently experienced, with current noise sources typically related to transportation operations (e.g., aircraft, rail, road noise sources) and home activities (e.g., air conditioning units, lawn care). As such, it is important to understand the type of noise communities will experience with UAV operations. For this paper, a UAV flyover event and hover event are examined in terms of spectral content and the relationship of peak frequencies. In addition, the peak frequencies and relationships are discussed in terms of those typically associated with annoyance.
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