Looking for a drone simulator to add to your collection? In this article, we’ll evaluate one of the simulators that’s been around for a while, the DroneSimPro simulator, and whether it’s worth your time and money.
Before we get into the technical details, what is the DroneSimpro Flight Simulator?
DroneSimPro is an easy-to-use drone simulator designed to emulate real drone flight and the physics behind it. It was released in 2016 and has hardly been updated since, offering limited flight scenarios and drone models.
Let’s take a closer look at this simulator and how to get the most out of it.
About DroneSim Pro
DroneSimPro is a drone simulator built by drone industry experts and stakeholders, including training institutions, robotics companies, and software companies. This drone flight simulator is designed to emulate real drones and the forces they are designed to face in the world, and is a great choice for those who have used other simulators or real drones, or for the first time. Suitable for those who are looking for
DroneSimPro Flight Simulator Review
After playing around for a while, let’s get into our honest review of the program.
setup and cost
DroneSimPro is one of the easiest flight simulators to set up. Just visit the official website, visit the shop, and access the program. You can access the simulator on the home page by scrolling down to where you will find details of what the simulator offers.
There are currently two ways to access this simulator. You can get the free demo or get the paid version which normally costs $29.99. However, when I bought it, the price was the promotional price of $9.99.
No matter which package you choose, you will be asked to create an account and a download link will be sent to your email.
I chose the paid version. The process looks like this:
check out
A download link will be sent to your email after purchase, but can also be accessed through your DroneSimPro account as shown in the image above.
After downloading and opening the zip file, the setup process will start automatically. The setup process only takes a few minutes.
The email also contains a license activation code to enter on the screen that appears after successful installation.
Now you are ready to fly.
design and scenario
DroneSimPro features excellent design and drone flight physics. As you can see in one of his scenarios below, the open fields, grass, sky, and the drone itself look very realistic.
Flying the drone too far can make it almost invisible, but you can make up for it with the drone view, also known as the FPV view.
Besides the open field, DroneSimPro has only two other scenarios.
Obstacle course:
Single-family homes whose homes are to be inspected to find the source of the fire:
available drones
The number of drones will increase in the future, but currently the only drone that can be flown in the simulator is the Phantom 4.
controller
Most standard gamepad controllers work in the simulator, as noted on the FAQ page. These include:
- Xbox One
- Xbox 360 standard and Gamestop branded
- Playstation 3
I’ve tested an Xbox One controller and it works. DroneSimPro also lists a number of other controllers that theoretically could work in the simulator, although they have not been tested.
Even without a controller, you can enjoy basic drone flight using your computer keyboard.
flight experience
This simulator makes flying a drone as easy as possible. There are no levels to complete. Just pick a scenario and fly.
You’ll be asked to follow a path in the Obstacle module or find a flashpoint in the Single-family house module, but most of the flying experience can be freestyle if you choose.
DroneSimPro Flight Simulator Review – Pros and Cons
Below are my take on this simulator.
what i like
- look real – As mentioned, the lawn, the drone itself, collisions when encountering obstacles, non-line-of-sight notifications, telemetry, and most areas within the simulator look realistic.
- It’s relatively cheap – At $29.99 ($9.99 with special offers), DroneSimPro is cheaper than some high-end simulators.
- Easy to fly – While some simulators launch drones, switch them off, and complete different levels, DroneSimPro takes a plug-and-play approach. It’s okay if you know the basic operation method of the drone.
- Drone View and Pilot View – As with a real drone, you can choose to view the drone manually or through the drone’s camera. Switching between the two is also very easy.
- It’s Right – Some simulators can be “too heavy” for standard computers due to the graphics and all the elements that power the game. But if you haven’t invested in a powerful computer, DroneSimPro should work just fine on almost any computer.
what i didn’t like
- Very few scenarios – For $9.99 at least, I think the simulator could use more scenarios. Their services page says they can order custom-built scenarios, but there will be an additional charge for that.
- It’s not challenging enough – Being easy to fly is great when it comes to learning, but simulators should have more challenges. That said, there isn’t much you can do in the simulator, especially for experienced pilots. Even beginners can easily complete all levels in a few hours.
- Not regularly updated – DroneSimPro was released in 2016. It may have seemed daunting at the time, but more drones and simulators are being released. It seems that they have never updated this simulator as the FAQ page states that they should release more drones and scenarios in 2016.
Alternatives to DroneSimPro
Six years is a long time in the drone world since it was launched in 2016. It might be nice to have an outdated simulator to check out years-old tech, but if you’re looking for a better simulator to challenge you, here are some great alternatives.
DRL simulator
Well this is one of my favorite simulators. First of all, it’s cheap as it’s under $5 if you buy it for PC and under $20 if you buy it for PlayStation.
Second, DRL has some of the best and most realistic graphics.
From shipyards and air force dockyards to campsites, there are over 10 different scenarios that you can create. You can also customize your drone, fly different race his tracks, and challenge real drone racing his league within the simulator.
Unlike DroneSimPro, this is a modern simulator with regular updates and a tutorial on how to fly a drone.
” more: Read our in-depth review to learn more about this simulator
ORQA FPV Skydive
After learning how to fly a drone with simulators such as DroneSimPro and DRL, try the ORQA FPV Skydive Simulator. It may be free (which is great if you’re not ready to pay for a simulator), but it’s extremely difficult and requires a user with experience flying drones.
Being an FPV simulator, it is very fast and only offers a drone view. There is no option to see the drone in pilot view.
Luckily, there are training modules you can do before attempting a real flight. Scenarios you can fly in include construction zones, stadiums, and red valleys.
Get ORQA FPV Skydive here.
Zephyr Drone Simulator
If you want to learn everything about flying drones, from controls to drone laws, Zephyr Drone Simulator is for you. Rather than offering it as a complete package, Little Arms studios offers a variety of courses in various priced packages.
However, there are tutorials, 3 scenarios, and at least 10 drones you can test for free. We also offer courses for children and for specific industrial applications such as inspection.
” more: For more information on this simulator and my take on it, read my in-depth review
Conclusion
DroneSimPro may not offer what some simulators like DRL, ORQA Skydive, or Zephyr do, but we’ll still consider it. It doesn’t hurt to get bored and add another simulator to that collection.
I have about 5 simulators on my computer and keep skipping from one to the next so I don’t get bored with one.
reference:
Drone Sim Pro | Drone Simulator for UAS Pilots (Link)
