The FPV drone simulator is the solution for conducting training of future drone operators from a safe and controlled environment. The application supports different modes: from learning for beginners to upgrading additional skills of experienced operators. The VR app helps gain practical drone control skills while avoiding the risk of damaging real equipment.
This virtual training platform has flying scenarios with mission-based challenges, visual and sound effects, and dynamic physics. The flight simulator supports different drone models and has a set of learning scenarios for the industries that highly rely on drone operations, such as military and public safety.
VR Drone Simulator
The FPV drone simulator is the solution for conducting training of future drone operators from a safe and controlled environment. The application supports different modes: from learning for beginners to upgrading additional skills of experienced operators. The VR app helps gain practical drone control skills while avoiding the risk of damaging real equipment.
This virtual training platform has flying scenarios with mission-based challenges, visual and sound effects, and dynamic physics. The flight simulator supports different drone models and has a set of learning scenarios for the industries that highly rely on drone operations, such as military and public safety.
Business Challenge
The customer is a provider of the hardware and software solutions for the FPV drones. The organization received numerous inquiries from customers regarding the drone guides and training programs it sells, so the business decided to develop a license-based drone flying simulator. The VR app itself had to allow users to quickly master the art of controlling drones and understand the specifics of their operation.
Solution
The AR & VR development team from Chudovo implemented a fully functional application for training FPV drone operators based on the component-based architecture. The solution itself has the following options:
- Mission-specific virtual environments. For example, a combat zone in urban conditions, in open terrain, in forests, and in mountainous locations etc. Also, each environment had the option of connecting a randomized generator of unexpected events. For instance, signal loss, changing weather conditions a thunderstorm, and unexpected threats from the enemy.
- Realistic flight dynamics. Thanks to the emulation of aerodynamics, the system creates conditions for drone flight and mission execution that are close to real field conditions. This also includes simulation of thrust and movement, engine stall, vibrations during sharp maneuvers, as well as the impact on the drone of external factors such as wind force, flight altitude, etc.
- Additional scenarios for emergency training. Examples include GPS signal loss, sensor failure, blurred or missing camera images, etc.
- Module for analytics and analysis of the progress of completed programs. The system monitors such details as response time in unexpected situations, percentage of successful missions, time spent on training, and number of broken equipment (virtual values). Analytics allows for the analysis of operator errors for their prompt elimination.
- Option to connect multiple users. This mode involves supervised training in the FPV drone simulator with the involvement of an instructor. The instructor monitors the mission execution process, can stop it at a certain point in time and point out errors, can communicate with the operator for tips, trigger random or custom events, etc.
- Hardware for training: 1) Oculus Quest 2 and Meta Quest. 3 2) PC-based virtual reality systems (HTC Vive, Valve Index) 3) Non-VR desktop mode
Business Impact
The drone simulator app has, according to the customer’s client feedback, the following results:
- Rapid acquisition of FPV drone control skills in the field. After completing the training, there is a 35% reduction in lost equipment and a 55% reduction in damaged equipment compared to training on real drones in the field
- Unified training process with the ability to track progress and train on different drone models
- Positive feedback from the operators themselves, who are being trained on the drone simulator
Outcomes for the customer company:
- Expanding the offering line
- Increasing customer trust
- Increasing drone sales in combination with simulator training licenses
