RC - blimp sim

[SOOline]

My first post but thanks to all the regular contributors that make these forums such a valuable resource. I'm working on a project that is going to involve controlling several rc blimps (8 or so) simultaneously from a single computer. As one of the first steps in the process I would like to set up some sort of computer simulation enviroment in which to model the project. Any suggestions for a flight sim that could be modded to accomidate multiple flying objects simultaneously? Thanks in advance.

[mswlogo]

G3 has a blimp and supports multiple flying objects but not as a single model the other models are a recording or another player (1 other player I believe).

[rutat]

SSS allows "bot" planes.

[Mr Rowl]

If you decide to use SSS I'll be happy to help with some advice on the code (which is freely available), and also maybe some coding too (if it's not too much and is interesting!).

If you want the blimps to be computer controlled (apart from one human controlled) you'll need to code up some simple AI for them - there's already a template for the gliders so this should be easy.

If you want the blimps to all be human controlled (or there to be more than 2 human-controlled) you'll need to work out how to get multiple intputs into the system - will need some work. For 2 blimps you might be able to use the networking stuff in SSS (even though it's not great!).

For the aerodynamics there's a good chance reasonable blimp behaviour could be set up with the current system that would be good enough for what you want (sounds weird - but have a look at the wizard/sledge "gliders" as they use "anti-gravity" components etc). If you need something extra I can explain what code needs to be created/modified, and maybe do it for you.

If you want an environment that isn't "outdoors with no objects other than trees" you'd need to work on this - e.g. the ability to import static objects.

[SOOline]

Thanks for the offer Mr. Rowl. The goal is to have all the blimps be computer controlled. Ideally I would like to provide each blimp with a set of coordinates and have it fly from spot to spot over time. I want to model the choreography that the real blimps will execute so to work out possible collisions, etc. The environement should be a blank slate as this is going to be occuring in a gym. So if it would be possible to constrain the model to a specific sized room that would be perfect. Does this still sound achievable?

[Mr Rowl]

Yes - from what you write it sounds like SSS is really suitable :) I suggest you download it and look at the source code and then mail me with any questions/ideas.

Collisions with walls/ceiling - no at the moment SSS won't handle them. However, since you'll be writing the controller code you can do whatever checks you like in there. Alternatively you could write code to load in extra geometry and do physics collisions.

It's up to you whether you'd want to do this in a seperate branch that you'd never merge back to the main SSS code base, or do it in such a way that all the new stuff can go into the main SSS code. Obviously if the latter then it will be easier for me to help... One reason for doing this (from my point of view) is that recently I wrote a "helicopter controller" - it basically turns "high-level" intentions (like move N at 10m/s whilst facing SE) into the low-level control inputs. Anyway, if you wrote some "AI" code that worked for blimps, maybe it could easily be adapted to work with helis too - so there would be "robot" helis in SSS.

Also SSS supports "skybox" rendering - so if you can get a full set of images of a real gym then it will be possible to make it look pretty too (no idea what your plans are, but if you were going to present this project somewhere it might be nice).

[3D-flyer-93]

what does SSS stand for?

[Mr Rowl]

Slope Soaring Simulator (http://www.rowlhouse.co.uk/sss/index.html). It progressed beyond it's original intentions....

[Andrew McGregor]

You could do this in X-Plane, which is a fullsize aircraft simulator, mostly... it tends to get a bit squirrely when it comes to models. Blimps would be fine 'cause they don't move all that fast.

x-plane.com

[coder1024]

Might want to look at FlightGear as well (http://www.flightgear.org/). Its a free, open-source flight sim. I've used it in the past by driving around an aircraft (using a model I provided) by sending UDP packets to the running app. When I did this, I read that there was also a multiplayer mode where you could send network packets to it to drive multiple vehicles around.

So, given that you could get the necessary 3D models imported, you could write some code to drive it and provide the simulation environment you're looking for.

[Max Stanford]

I'm working on a project that is going to involve controlling several rc blimps (8 or so) simultaneously from a single computer. As one of the first steps in the process I would like to set up some sort of computer simulation enviroment in which to model the project.



It sounds like you are biting off more than you can chew. If you really want to do this project you should master control of 1 blimp then add more once you are able to do it. Trying to start with 8 will probably result in failure.