Research on drone and urban air mobility noise: Measurement, modelling, and human perception

This manuscript summarizes the main recent research efforts at Delft University of Technology in the field of drone and urban air mobility (UAM) vehicle noise. Illustrative examples are showcased, specifically in terms of acoustic measurements (both in-field and in wind-tunnel facilities), noise modelling (both data-driven and physics-based), and human perception of these sounds. In particular, the measurements feature microphone arrays and acoustic imaging to detect, localize, and isolate drone noise emissions. Regarding drone noise modelling, the proposed approaches cover noise generation, propagation, and acoustic footprint calculation. The evaluation of the human perception of drone noise and the perceived annoyance is another crucial aspect. To this end, psychoacoustic listening experiments are conducted in laboratory conditions and the results are analyzed using perception-based sound metrics. Data from aeroacoustic measurements and synthetic sound auralizations are considered. Combining these three main approaches holistically, the perception-driven design and assessment can be performed by targeting the minimization of the perceived noise annoyance, rather than merely reducing sound pressure levels.