Play take-off: a virtual simulator will help you master the UAV
Russian students have created a computer simulator for controlling Split drones, which focuses on realistic flight physics. The project is designed in the format of racing on FPV drones with the support of professional UAV control panels. The developers rely not only on the entertainment component, but also on the applied training of operators. Izvestia tested the new product and assessed its possible practical value.
Betting on realism
Students of RTU MIREA took part in the creation of the Split simulator, which allows them to practice drone control. The key feature of the project was the support of professional UAV and UAV control panels. Unlike most gaming analogues focused on gamepads and keyboards, the development allows you to use equipment that is as close to the real thing as possible. Izvestia was one of the first to test the new product.
— The game has various difficulty levels, from stabilization modes to fully manual controls. This corresponds to the classical logic of pilot training: a gradual transition from basic skills to more complex piloting elements," the developers said.
The gameplay includes several types of activities: racing on closed tracks, sprints, single-elimination competitions, shuttle routes, as well as additional tasks. A free flight mode is also available to the user.
— Special attention is paid to the customization system. The virtual garage allows you to change the configuration of the drone — from the power plant to individual components. These changes directly affect the characteristics of the device, including maneuverability, speed and stability," explained the partner company Nanosemantics.
Thus, the player gets a basic understanding of how the technical parameters of the UAV affect its behavior in the air, and this is an important part of operator training. It will be released at the end of April 2026 on Steam and VK Play platforms, initially in early access, that is, with a limited amount of available content.
As gaming industry expert Igor Baranov noted, such solutions can play a significant role in learning.
— Simulators with realistic physics and support for professional consoles are an effective tool for initial operator training. They allow you to develop basic management skills without risking expensive equipment," he believes.
According to him, in the face of growing demand for specialists in the field of unmanned aircraft, such products can become part of the educational ecosystem, especially since not just students worked on the game, but students studying in the field of Virtual Space Technology. In the future, such simulators can be used not only as entertainment, but also as an element of pre-professional training. They allow you to practice basic piloting skills, which can later be transferred to real-world drone operating conditions.
The role of AI in development
Artificial intelligence technologies and recommendation algorithms were used in the development of Split. They analyze user actions and adapt the complexity of tasks, forming an individual learning trajectory. This allows beginners to gradually master the controls, while more experienced users can quickly move on to complex scenarios and maneuvers.
At the same time, experts pay attention to the high level of competition in the segment of FPV simulators. There are already a significant number of solutions on the market with advanced physics and support for professional equipment.
— The FPV simulator market is already oversaturated, and new products face high competition. Split comes out quite late, when users have already formed preferences and have established leaders,— says IT expert Sergey Pomortsev.
In his opinion, the success of the project will depend on the quality of implementation, stability, and the ability of developers to build an active community around the game.
After the game is released, the developers plan to develop the project based on user feedback.
Despite the competitive pressure, the approach itself — the use of a game format for UAV control training — is in line with current trends. Gamification lowers the entry threshold and increases engagement, which is especially important when working with a youth audience, Igor Baranov explained.
— The global video game market is already estimated at hundreds of billions of dollars, while the share of online and cloud services continues to grow, increasing demand for scalable infrastructure. This makes such projects an important driver of cloud technology development," explained the head of Customer Development. Cloud.ru Marina Kosova.
According to her, projects of this type are difficult to implement: real-time work, variable workload and the need for synchronous interaction of a large number of users require a stable and scalable architecture.
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