FPV simulators - terrytaylorbonn/auxdrone GitHub Wiki
24.0823
24.0823
A great video talking about Liftoff simulator that I recommend below.
Поширені проблеми керування FPV Дроном у новачків.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZPLDRFWsD8
Liftoff simulator for drone beginners.. A MUST 24.0604
I was working (for free) for some American NGO (remotely) in late 2024 in Ukraine. The NGO boss wanted me to take drone flight training at some center in Kyiv. The training center changed the prices and wanted payment to some personal paypal account. The NGO boss was probably trying to do a favor for a friend by ripping me off for $400.
Anyway, I did not need to spend money on such training. What a person with no flight experience really needs is training on these common simulators (like Liftoff). There are 2 sticks, each with 2 direction of movement. Basically you have 4 differenet inputs (power, azimuth (direction copter is pointing), roll (left, right) and pitch (up, down). Getting the basic instincts for use these takes days of training (a week). You do this initial training on Liftoff (for $20).
This page explains how to setup and get started. Note that my favorie mode in Liftoff appears to be a bug in the current version (I am still not exactly sure how I get the simulator into that mode :) ).
0 Download install Steam / Liftoff
https://www.liftoff-game.com/liftoff-fpv-drone-racing
1 The required view
the perfect mode I had been looking for. Its with you viewing the world as if you are just behind the copter (facing in direction of the FPV camera). Its perfect.
Why this aspect? This view (from behind the copter) is key, not FPV view, because when you first go out to fly you should not be using FPV goggles (unless you are in a remote area). And my area is not remote. You want to fly the copter slowly, controlled, and have the instincts developed on the flight sim (how to move the sticks.. its like learning to drive a car or ride a bike again) ready for when you start to get out of control. ITS VERY COMPLICATED AT FIRST.
1b How to setup the "behind the copter" (BTC) view?
The UI is chaos.. I get lost in it all the time.. this is my best guess to get there.
Somehow I was messing around in Liftoff and the mode changed to BTC. It seems to be a bug or something in teh software that shows a view that is in the software, but is not supposed to be used (?).
Anyway, this is my best guess on how to get there.
Select line of sight.
This is the first of 24 (!!) times you get some message and have to click next.
Click ESC.
In PAUSE MENU CLICK options.
In OPTIONS click Game options. Set the options as shown here.
Click resume. you get this reload level dialog. This is the trick.. it brings up the BTC mode.
Click yes. Now you have the coveted BTC view.
2 Basic control Simulation video 2
Simulation video 2 shows how I recommend to any beginner to train on Liftoff simulator.
I was trying to fly around the pilot, pointing the FPV camera at the pilot. The goal is CONTROL, always flying under control.. this took me probably 5 hours of sim training before I could do this. Its not easy. None of the simulators focus on this aspect.. this is the key aspect to master before you go out to fly first time.
The biggest problem is honing your instincts of how to move the sticks. There are 4 movements. Even after 5 hours of training, I am still instinctively pushing the wrong stick direction in many situations (my worst habit: when I start to lose control or get confused, I always push the left stick up.. that increase prop speed and usually only makes things worse). Its really hard to break the habit. This is the key of sim training. You often read about how a simulator is not realistic enough, etc. Thats not the point. The point is to break you of your incorrect instincts.
PS: One problem with this simulation. It does not have a "stabilization" mode for flying (such as angle). Angle mode stabilizes the drone, making fast movements impossible, but slow movements much easier. Perfect for a beginner. The simulators I have tried dont do this (to me it should be obvious that beginners need such a mode).
3 Momentum (Simulation video 3)
Simulation video 3 shows the importance of maintaining momentum when flying.
@0:00 (start of video) I cut the motors, and the drone falls. In the past, I would (as most beginners) give full throttle as the drone nears the ground. And I'd always hit the ground. :) What I failed to appreciate is maintaining momentum. In this video I gave full throttle, but I also pitched forward. This changes everything. It maintains momentum. The downward momentum is turned into forward momentum. The simulator probably overdoes this, but its a basic concept in drone flying (that I just an hour ago came to appreciate).
@0:07 I am flying low and fast, and then do what I normally did. Pitch up, but no throttle. And the copter falls. I lost momementum. Then @0:10 I gave full throttle, but I did not back off. And I rocketed up. Finally @0:17 I got things right. I lost the momentum only after stopping at a height that allowed me to gain enough momentum coming back down that I would not hit the ground.
This is an example of how a good simulator can drastically raise your skills. Even if a real copter is not quite the same, you will still use the same core instincts (and only have to adjust them a bit).
Again, it amazes me that no "getting started" with drones video I have seen makes this clear. So I wrote this.
Overview of simulators
liftoff ---------------------
https://www.liftoff-game.com/liftoff-fpv-drone-racing
Racing Drone Simulator - LIFTOFF FliteTest ---------------------
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Smfyw-wd_b4&t=16s
fpv skydive --------------------------
velocidrone
DRL -----------------------------
https://store.steampowered.com/app/641780/The_Drone_Racing_League_Simulator/
Oscar: The Best FPV Drone Simulators Round-up 15th February 2024 ----------------
My Recommendations
- The best for total beginners: DRL
- The best for racing, and slow computers: VelociDrone
- The best for freestyle and cinematic: Tryp
- The jack of all trades: Liftoff
- The best Tiny Whoop sim: Tiny Whoop GO
- The best free sim, and best mobile sim (Android): SkyDive
What’s STEAM?
Most FPV drone simulators are available on Steam, a digital platform where you can buy, play, and update games. Steam simplifies game management and ensures you’re always up to date with the latest patches.
Plus, Steam offers a consumer-friendly return policy, allowing refunds for games played for less than two hours—perfect for testing out a simulator to see if it meets your expectations.