A Modular Open-Source Augmented Reality Drone Environment for Human–Drone Interaction Research

Abstract

This paper presents a modular open-source augmented reality (AR) environment for safe, repeatable, and extensible Human-Drone Interaction research. Developed in Unity for the Meta Quest 3, the system renders a virtual drone in the user’s physical surroundings using passthrough AR. It supports configurable three-dimensional approach trajectories, randomized trial sequences, spatial audio, experimenter-controlled stopping, safety constraints, and automatic logging of stopping distances. Experimental parameters can be adjusted through the Unity Inspector, enabling researchers to change key experimental parameters, such as drone model and trajectories, without restructuring the system. Furthermore, researchers may choose to adopt any subset of components from the system, e.g. only the drone model or audio. By reducing the risks, variability, and development effort associated with physical-drone experiments, the environment provides a reusable foundation for controlled studies in human-drone research.