FPV drone simulator is a software that simulates flight controllers and drones, allowing users to simulate the flying experience of drones in a virtual environment, thus helping drone enthusiasts to practice their flying skills, test different controller settings, evaluate aircraft performance and test flight sites, etc.
The following are some popular FPV drone simulator:
- DRL (Drone Racing League) Simulator
- Liftoff
- Velocidrone
- FPV Freerider
- RealFlight 9
- Phoenix RC Simulator
- AeroSIM RC
- Uncrashed
Most of these drone simulators offer different flight scenarios and vehicles, allowing users to choose different vehicles and scenarios to better practice and experience drone flight.
The following are the Pros and disadvantages of common FPV drone simulator:
DRL (Drone Racing League) Simulator:
- Pros: DRL is a racing-based FPV drone simulator with a high-quality graphics and physics simulation engine that offers a wide selection of flight scenarios and drones, allowing users to practice and compete in a variety of flights. drl also offers multiplayer online games that allow users to compete with others.
- Cons: Requires a high performance computer and may run slowly for users with lower computer performance. drl also requires a fee to unlock all features.
Liftoff:
- Pros: Liftoff is a realistic flight experience based FPV drone simulator with a realistic physics simulation engine and high quality graphics, offering a wide selection of aircraft and scenarios, as well as online multiplayer and a custom scenario editor, allowing users to have a more diverse flight experience and practice.
- Cons: Liftoff requires a high-performance computer to ensure smooth operation, and may not work properly for users with low computer performance. Also, Liftoff requires a certain fee to unlock all features.
Velocidrone:
- Pros: Velocidrone is a stable and feature-rich FPV drone simulator with a realistic physics simulation engine and high-quality graphics, offering a wide selection of aircraft and scenarios, as well as online multiplayer games that allow users to have a more diverse flight experience and practice.
- Cons: Velocidrone requires a high performance computer to ensure smooth operation, for users with low computer performance may not be able to run properly.
FPV Freerider:
Pros:
- Affordability – FPV Freerider is one of the most budget-friendly FPV simulators, making it a popular choice for beginners who want to practice flying FPV drones without breaking the bank.
- Simple Setup – The installation and interface are user-friendly, allowing users to start flying quickly without dealing with complex settings.
- Realistic Physics – While not perfect, FPV Freerider provides decent flight physics that mimic the feel of real FPV drones, offering solid training for new pilots.
- Map Variety – The simulator includes a range of environments to fly in, from basic open spaces to more complex tracks, which helps users practice different FPV flying styles.
Cons:
- Limited Graphics – The graphics in FPV Freerider are quite basic compared to other FPV Drone Simulators, which can reduce the immersive experience.
- Minimal Features – It lacks advanced features like tuning options and in-depth customization of drone parameters, which more experienced pilots may miss.
- No Multiplayer – For those looking for a social flying experience, FPV Freerider doesn’t offer multiplayer options, unlike other best FPV simulators on the market.
RealFlight 9.5:
Pros:
- Realistic Physics: Offers highly accurate flight dynamics for a true-to-life experience.
- Extensive Model Library: Features a wide range of drones, helicopters, and airplanes.
- Training Modules: Includes comprehensive tutorials and challenges for all skill levels.
- VR Compatibility: Supports virtual reality for an immersive flying experience.
- Multiplayer Mode: Enables online sessions for competitive and social flying.
Cons:
- High Cost: Premium pricing may deter budget-conscious users.
- Steep Learning Curve: Realism can be challenging for beginners.
- High System Requirements: Demands a powerful PC for optimal performance.
Phoenix RC:
Pros:
- User-Friendly: Phoenix RC is known for its easy setup and intuitive interface, making it accessible for beginners.
- Wide Aircraft Selection: Offers a diverse range of models, including planes, helicopters, and FPV drones.
- Smooth Performance: Runs efficiently on less powerful PCs, making it more accessible.
- Realistic Environments: Provides detailed flying environments that enhance the overall experience.
Cons:
- Outdated Software: Lacks recent updates, making it less relevant compared to newer FPV drone simulators.
- Limited FPV Focus: Primarily designed for planes and helicopters, so its FPV drone simulation may not be as advanced as in the best drone simulators.
- Compatibility: Can be challenging to get working on modern operating systems.
AeroSIM RC:
Pros:
- Realistic Flight Dynamics: AeroSIM RC is praised for its accurate flight physics, making it a solid FPV drone simulator for serious training.
- FPV Focused: Strong emphasis on FPV simulation, making it one of the best FPV drone simulators available.
- Scenario Variety: Offers a range of environments, from basic training fields to complex missions.
Cons:
- Outdated Graphics: Visuals are less impressive compared to newer FPV simulators, which can detract from the immersive experience.
- Limited Model Selection: Fewer drone models available compared to other FPV simulators.
- High Cost: Comes with a premium price tag, which may not justify the experience for all users.
- Compatibility Issues: Some users report challenges with controller setup and software compatibility on modern systems.
Uncrashed：
- Pros:Uncrashed is a new FPV drone simulator that features an online multiplayer mode that allows players to race and fly with other players in the simulator, making it more interactive and fun. In addition, Uncrashed features high graphics quality and a smooth frame rate, providing players with a more realistic FPV flying experience.
- Cons: Uncrashed over other FPV simulators is its multiplayer online mode, which provides a richer gaming experience and challenge for those who want to compete with other players. But accordingly, due to the need for online connection, requires a more stable network environment, network bandwidth and latency also have certain requirements. In addition, its price is relatively high, also need to take into account the player’s financial ability. Therefore, the choice of whether to use Uncrashed should be based on personal needs and the actual situation to weigh and consider.
The following are some free FPV simulators
FPV.SkyDive
Pros:
- Cost-Effective: As a free FPV drone simulator, it’s ideal for those starting out without financial risk.
- Immersive Environments: Offers diverse, realistic flying scenarios, enhancing the training experience.
- User-Friendly: Easy setup and compatibility with various controllers make it accessible for all skill levels.
- Regular Updates: Continuous addition of new maps and scenarios keeps the simulator engaging.
Cons:
- Limited Free Content: The base version has restricted levels and customization options.
- Monetization: Additional content requires in-game purchases, which may deter users looking for a fully free experience.
- Basic Features: May not satisfy advanced pilots seeking more sophisticated flight dynamics and customization.
- Content Variety: Despite regular updates, the range of environments and challenges could be broader for a more varied experience.
Overall, FPV Skydive stands out as one of the best FPV drone simulators for beginners but might fall short for experienced users seeking advanced features.
FPV Skydive Download Links: https://skydive.orqafpv.com/
Tiny Whoop GO Simulator
Pros:
- Tailored for Tiny Whoops: Specifically designed to simulate the flight dynamics of Tiny Whoop drones, making it ideal for enthusiasts of these models.
- Beginner-Friendly: Easier to fly than larger FPV drones, making it a great starting point for newcomers.
- Custom Track Building: Offers a track builder feature, allowing users to create and share custom scenarios, adding to the simulator’s versatility.
- Multiplayer Options: Includes both single-player and multiplayer modes, enhancing the competitive and social aspects of the simulator.
- Cost-Effective: Free to download with additional features available for purchase, providing a budget-friendly option.
Cons:
- Simplified Flight Experience: The drone simulator may feel less challenging than flying a real Tiny Whoop, which could disappoint users seeking a more realistic experience.
- In-App Purchases: Some features, like the track builder, require payment, which may be a drawback for users expecting a fully free experience.
Tiny Whoop GO Simulator Download Links: https://www.tinywhoop.com/pages/sim
Real Drone Simulator(RDS)
Pros: Realism is the key, therefore every drone and parts in the sim is based on existing products and using real life parameters to get the closest behaviours to the real. RDS has a unique physics calculator which can pre-calculate even existing custom drone setup’s flight characteristic and behaviours. They have used the brand new 3D scanning technologies for the very first time in the videogame industry to have scanned complete buildings, environments. RDS supports a wide range of applications, from racing to professional tasks like photography and videography. And they promise regular updates with new features and improvements to keep the simulator dynamic and up-to-date.
Cons: One man is developing RDS alone which makes development time longer than team based developments,This simulator’s development is still in progress and this next major update will be v0.8.2.0 so past Alpha but prior Beta development stage,The user interface is not very user friendly yet but it is usable after people is getting use to it.
Real Drone Simulator(RDS) Download Links: https://www.realdronesimulator.com/
RDS is perfect for newcomers to FPV drones! Because it’s free to use.
Here are the download links and prices for FPV drone simulator:
- DRL (Drone Racing League) Simulator – Steam platform download, free trial, full version for $9.99 https://store.steampowered.com/app/641780/The_Drone_Racing_League_Simulator/
- Liftoff – Steam download for $19.99 https://store.steampowered.com/app/410340/Liftoff_FPV_Drone_Racing/
- Velocidrone – Official site download, free trial, full version for $24.99 https://www.velocidrone.com/
- FPV Freerider – official website download, free trial, full version for $9.99 https://fpv-freerider.itch.io/fpv-freerider
- RealFlight 9 – official website download for $99.99 https://www.realflight.com/products/rf9
- Phoenix RC Simulator – official website download for $199.99 https://www.phoenixmodel.com/Phoenix_R_C_Pro_Flight_Simulator_5_0_Download_p/phoenixr5download.html
- AeroSIM RC – official website download for $99.95 https://www.aerosimrc.com/en/
- Uncrashed – Steam platform download, free trial, full version for $39.99 https://store.steampowered.com/app/1526190/Uncrashed/
As a beginner in FPV, selecting a suitable simulator for training ：
Purpose and Needs：
First, you need to define your purpose and needs for using a simulator. If you want to improve your flying skills and competition, then a simulator with multiplayer online games and racing modes is more suitable. If you just want to do basic flight practice and testing, then a simulator with a good graphics and physics simulation engine is more suitable.
Features and performance：
Next, you need to consider the features and performance of the simulator. For example, whether the simulator has a wide selection of aircraft and scenarios, whether it offers multiplayer online games and racing modes, whether it has a good graphics and physics simulation engine, etc.
Operation and control：
Third, you need to consider the operation and control of the simulator. The operation and control of the simulator should be simple and easy to understand for newcomers to get started quickly. At the same time, the simulator’s controls should be similar to those of the actual flying machine, so that novices can better adapt to actual flying.
Cost and compatibility：
Finally, you need to consider the cost and compatibility of the simulator. Some simulators require a paid purchase or subscription, while others are free. Also, you need to make sure that the simulator will be compatible with your computer or controller.
In conclusion, as a newbie to FPV, when choosing a suitable simulator for training, you need to consider the simulator’s features, performance, operation, control, cost and compatibility to choose the best simulator for your needs and practical situation.
Fly fpv simulators by radio controller
To get the most out of an FPV simulator, it’s essential to use a proper radio controller. Unlike a gaming controller or keyboard, a radio helps build the muscle memory you’ll need when flying a real FPV drone. Many radios today come plug-and-play, making them easy to connect via USB as a joystick on your PC for immediate use in any FPV Drone Simulator. This allows you to practice in a simulator and later use the same controller to fly actual drones. When choosing a radio, look for a “4-in-1 transmitter” or an external module bay for future upgrades. These options give you flexibility for different protocols like FrSky or Express LRS, ensuring your controller works with various drones, from beginner to advanced. Investing in a good radio ensures you’re training with the same equipment you’ll use to fly, making it one of the best ways to prepare for real-world FPV flying.
FPV Drone Simulator Practice
Preserving good ergonomics and posture when flying in a simulator. In your simulator practice, stand up if that’s how you generally fly. If you use a neck strap when flying in real life, use one when simming.
If this is your first time, pick a map that is open and has few obstacles.
- Practice arming and disarming the drone (it’s a good idea to practice disarming it after a crash before pressing the reset button).
- Practice landing and flying straight ahead, circling, and making left and right turns, among other maneuvers.
- To reduce the impact, practice landing by hovering near the ground before disarming. You should also practice flying through gaps.
- Rolls and flips should be practiced.
- practice making split S movements.