The serious game Navigating the Skies serves as a research instrument designed to engage non-specialist adult audiences in the complex trade-offs between logistics drone energy consumption and ground-level safety risks. By tasking users with planning delivery routes across a grid-based map of Southampton, UK, the game aims to foster public discourse on the future of autonomous transport. The primary thesis is that interactive, data-driven simulations can effectively bridge the gap between technical logistics research and public perception, providing researchers with valuable insights into societal attitudes toward drone regulation and flight path preferences.
Developed using the Unity3D engine, the game integrates real-world geographic data, satellite imagery, and modelled risk assessments to create a realistic simulation environment. Players must navigate battery constraints while balancing the potential for ground risk, which is calculated based on factors such as population density, wind conditions, and drone failure probabilities. The game utilizes a tile-based system to visualize these risks, allowing users to observe the immediate consequences of their routing decisions through an accumulated risk graph and a 3D flyover feature.
Pilot trials conducted at two public outreach events in the UK involved 41 participants across a diverse age range. Findings indicate that the game is highly effective at stimulating nuanced discussion, with 92% of participants finding the interface intuitive and easy to follow. Feedback revealed that while users are generally open to drone logistics in industrial areas, they express significant caution regarding flight paths over residential housing and private homes. These results demonstrate the utility of serious games as a tool for gathering public sentiment, informing future regulatory frameworks, and translating abstract logistics challenges into accessible, actionable data for both researchers and the general public.
