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What can the SDK do ?
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Can someone please let me know what the basic outline of the SDK can do?
I have a ton of questions, but need to know what the SDK can and cant do before I dump them on you guys...
Thanks
Marcus.
Well I think your question is just too broad. The SDK contains a range of tools and documentation to help create addons of different types for FS - what is in the SDK depends on which version of FS you are referring to. I think you need to tell us a bit more about what you want to do and then we can tell you if and how the SDK could help achieve that
I thought you might need to know a bit more...
Ok, I shall try my best.
The version I am running is FSX Standard.
What I want to do is kinda complicated, but I shall give you a little background...
I work for a company that designs and produces UAVs. These targets have flight control software within them (that I write) and a controlling station on the ground (that someone else writes).
The groundstation controls the target via command packets which control pitch, roll, payloads etc. The target sends down telemetry packets where we can monitor for performance, gps etc. of the target.
My collegue and I was wondering if FSX could be a flight sim for our target.
This is the bit where I need to know what SDK can provide, so I will explain what we would like to do...(as best as I can)...
We have 3d drawings of the targets (solidworks) that we would like to import into FSX (?). We would like to model the flight characteristics of our targets within FSX, run some code within FSX that would produce a telemetry stream (pitot, static, gyro, gps, etc) to our groundstation. And eventually use FSX as a simulated hardware in the loop for our target...but I still havent got my head round that one yet
.
That's just a very broad outline, but hopefully enough of it to help you help me
regards
m
Ok, I shall try my best.
The version I am running is FSX Standard.
What I want to do is kinda complicated, but I shall give you a little background...
I work for a company that designs and produces UAVs. These targets have flight control software within them (that I write) and a controlling station on the ground (that someone else writes).
The groundstation controls the target via command packets which control pitch, roll, payloads etc. The target sends down telemetry packets where we can monitor for performance, gps etc. of the target.
My collegue and I was wondering if FSX could be a flight sim for our target.
This is the bit where I need to know what SDK can provide, so I will explain what we would like to do...(as best as I can)...
We have 3d drawings of the targets (solidworks) that we would like to import into FSX (?). We would like to model the flight characteristics of our targets within FSX, run some code within FSX that would produce a telemetry stream (pitot, static, gyro, gps, etc) to our groundstation. And eventually use FSX as a simulated hardware in the loop for our target...but I still havent got my head round that one yet
.That's just a very broad outline, but hopefully enough of it to help you help me
regards
m
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Step number one is that you need FSX DeLuxe to have access to the SDK.
Let me re-phrase what I understand you to be saying. You have some models (targets) that you want to place in FSX. You need to make these flyable in the sim. This is aircraft design and this can be done using tools and information provided in the SDK. I am no expert on these things but the flight dynamics side can be quite complex I think.
Next you want to get information back out about what your targets are doing - this can be done with SimConnect. That allows you to read information from an aircraft in the sim and also to write some information to it. One question is whether you would have a single or multiple targets running that you want information about
Let me re-phrase what I understand you to be saying. You have some models (targets) that you want to place in FSX. You need to make these flyable in the sim. This is aircraft design and this can be done using tools and information provided in the SDK. I am no expert on these things but the flight dynamics side can be quite complex I think.
Next you want to get information back out about what your targets are doing - this can be done with SimConnect. That allows you to read information from an aircraft in the sim and also to write some information to it. One question is whether you would have a single or multiple targets running that you want information about
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Hi,
As suggested by other ESP seems more what you need. But from the development point of view it is quite similar to FSX.
It is possible to add your own models in the landscape using either GMax or 3DS Studio.
For the UAV part you describe, that should also be possible. I am not sure if you can model all that in the FS aircraft file, but else you should be able to make it as a stand alone "simulation" that communicates with FS/ESP using SimConnect.
As suggested by other ESP seems more what you need. But from the development point of view it is quite similar to FSX.
It is possible to add your own models in the landscape using either GMax or 3DS Studio.
For the UAV part you describe, that should also be possible. I am not sure if you can model all that in the FS aircraft file, but else you should be able to make it as a stand alone "simulation" that communicates with FS/ESP using SimConnect.
Actually, the FSX EULA says that it can only be used for comercial purposes where provided with development tools. So that'd be the SDK then.
I've used FSX to produce the visual output from a UAV's optical camera, and moved the aircraft around in slew mode via FSUIPC and pointed the camera where I need to based upon inputs into the STANAG 4586 ground station. It works really well, but my job is made easier because the ground station has its own flight dynamics simulator built in with its own autopilot behaviour, so all I really needed to model was a moveable, gimballed and zoomable camera.
But I am upgrading it to ESP because you can see my management choke on the words when they tell impressed visitors that it's using a "game".
Si
I've used FSX to produce the visual output from a UAV's optical camera, and moved the aircraft around in slew mode via FSUIPC and pointed the camera where I need to based upon inputs into the STANAG 4586 ground station. It works really well, but my job is made easier because the ground station has its own flight dynamics simulator built in with its own autopilot behaviour, so all I really needed to model was a moveable, gimballed and zoomable camera.
But I am upgrading it to ESP because you can see my management choke on the words when they tell impressed visitors that it's using a "game".
Si
Cheers for all the replies.
I have had a look at ESP and it looks very good. More research required.
I think it is safe to say that the FSX SDK (DeLuxe) or the ESP could be used. I guess the next little problem is choosing which one.
One further question though (sorry);
Of course we have our own autopilot flying the target, with auto-navigation. Would it be possible to 'plug' this algorithm into FSX to fly the target...?
Regards
m
I have had a look at ESP and it looks very good. More research required.
I think it is safe to say that the FSX SDK (DeLuxe) or the ESP could be used. I guess the next little problem is choosing which one
.One further question though (sorry);
Of course we have our own autopilot flying the target, with auto-navigation. Would it be possible to 'plug' this algorithm into FSX to fly the target...?
Regards
m
The easiest way would be to write an external program that handled your flight dynamics and then send positional updates to FS each processing cycle. You cannot change the dynamics engine of FS, only tinker with the aircafts physical parameters.
Si
PS. From what I understand so far, ESP *is* FSX Deluxe just minus the game wrapper. The main difference between the two is just the support and licencing aspects.
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Yes, for the moment that is about true. But I think the licensing part is quite important for most users. And we never know what the future will bring of course
.That reminds me. I got my IT dept to get me a quote for ESP the other day and they came back and asked if I wanted to purchase "Software Assurance" with it. I have no idea what that means but as far as I can tell it just means free upgrades for 3(?) years. Does anyone know for sure?
Si
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Si,
MS Software Assurance is even a bit more than just the access to upgrades.
It opens up a door to select from several services MS offers you depending on the product. This ranges from training of your team to extended support options and financial things like spread payments.
It is a complex thing which best is introduced by a Microsoft Official.
MS Software Assurance is even a bit more than just the access to upgrades.
It opens up a door to select from several services MS offers you depending on the product. This ranges from training of your team to extended support options and financial things like spread payments.
It is a complex thing which best is introduced by a Microsoft Official.