Skara guardian angel - On-demand infrastructure services for safer, more secure, and comfortable active mobility

Purpose and goal:

The project´s objective is to explore the acceptance of emerging technologies that can encourage behavior changes toward active mobility, by developing and piloting drone-based solutions. It has successfully developed, demonstrated, and carried out pilot studies in Skara Municipality. The results are highly positive across four key evaluation factors: Trust, Safety, Societal Impact, and User Experience.

These outcomes demonstrate the potential of such technologies to support active mobility, particularly in rural areas. Expected results and effects:

The project developed on-demand digital lighting solutions using two drones and conducted field studies. These pilot studies received unanimously positive feedback, showcasing widespread acceptance. Analyzing the travel habits, experiences, and willingness of cyclists to use such services has highlighted the potential of drone-based lighting solutions to encourage behavior changes toward active mobility.

Additionally, the project has attracted significant media attention, raising awareness of the challenges and solutions associated with rural mobility. Approach and implementation:

The project embraced a human-centric approach, involving the community in designing, refining, and testing the solution. In partnership with Skara municipality, it connected with diverse groups for input. Initially, cyclists tested the prototype in VR. After enhancements, outreach expanded, including through local radio, to involve more participants. Two well-planned pilot studies saw 29 cyclists share feedback. Also, interviews with Swedish drone companies explored commercialization potential.