In this article, we will highlight two drone simulation programs. The first platform offers a highly detailed flight simulation and allows you to customize the simulation environment: location, medium, drone, controls, and so on. The second option is a game with great graphics, where you can fly your drone and invite other pilots to join. Both utilities provide different simulations so you can get hours of practice in a safe environment.
CRRCSim
CRRCSim is a flight simulation program with many features. In its aircraft database, you'll find many planes and drones (quadcopters). You can also add new aircraft designs.
Drone Configuration
After selecting the aircraft model, you can modify its visual appearance and set a controlled altitude and speed.
Drone Controls
You can find the controls from the “Options” menu and then selecting “Controls”. The environment supports several input types. Besides the keyboard, which is essential, you can choose between the mouse, joystick, voice, parallel, RCtran, ZhenHua, MNAV, CT6A, among other methods to control your aircraft. After selecting the method, you can configure it together with the keyboard that controls the camera view.
Simulation Environment
CRRCSim gives you total control over the simulation. You can select the simulation environment and customize thermal and wind conditions. You can also adjust the speed, direction, and intensity of turbulence, among other factors. Once you finish configuring, you can save the settings to open them later.
CRRCSim is available for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.
KestrelFPV
KestrelFPV is another very good drone simulator, built with Unity3D. The big difference between KestrelFPV and CRRCSim is its better graphics and larger flight area. But this quality makes the platform heavier and slower. The sole objective of KestrelFPV is for the user to learn to fly, so its simulations are very realistic (it doesn't include configurations).
Drone Simulator
The whole simulation is a game, so you can choose between free flight or competing with other pilots (you need an internet connection). When playing online, you can create a chat room to communicate with other players.
Beginner Controls
- X: Accelerate
- S: Decelerate
- Q: Turn left
- D: Turn right
- C: Change camera
- Numeric keypad: Move forward (8), backward (2), left (4), and right (6)
The program is available for Windows and Mac OS X.
If you need to log flight hours before flying your drone and not crash it, the two platforms for simulating drone flights will definitely be of great help.
