In this work, the noise impact of delivery drones in an urban community is assessed based on a flight simulation and noise assessment platform. The tonal and broadband noise components are considered using analytical and semi-analytical prediction methods. The noise propagation in the urban environment is computed using an efficient Gaussian beam tracing method. The influence of flight speeds, payloads and ground vegetation on noise reception at different observation locations are investigated. The instantaneous sound level can be higher if the drone is operated at a relatively higher speed. However, the overall sound exposure might be lower because of the shorter flight time. Similarly, the drone with a heavier payload could be louder, but in the meanwhile, fewer flight times are required. The platform provides an economical approach to understanding the effect of those competing influential factors, which are essential for the following low-noise flight path planning.

在这项工作中，基于飞行模拟和噪声评估平台评估了送货无人机在城市社区中的噪声影响。使用分析和半分析预测方法考虑音调和宽带噪声分量。使用高效的高斯波束追踪方法计算城市环境中的噪声传播。研究了飞行速度、有效载荷和地面植被对不同观测位置噪声接收的影响。如果无人机以相对较高的速度运行，瞬时声级可能会更高。但是，由于飞行时间较短，整体声音暴露可能较低。同样，负载更重的无人机可能声音更大，但与此同时，所需的飞行时间更少。