A Survey on Mixed Reality-Based Simulator for Drone Pilot Training

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, are increasingly used in applications such as agriculture, surveying, photography, and disaster management due to their efficiency and versatility. However, effective drone operation requires specialized training, which is often expensive, time-consuming, and associated with operational risks. Flight simulators provide a safe and cost-effective alternative by allowing pilots to practice in a controlled environment. The primary challenge is to develop an immersive simulator that accurately replicates real-world flight dynamics and provides realistic telemetry feedback. The proposed system addresses these challenges by creating a realistic virtual environment using Unity3D and Blender, while drone physics are modeled using RPM data from the ArduPilot flight planner. Multiple viewing modes, including first-person and third-person perspectives, enhance the training experience.