Drone enthusiasts can now practice their flying skills using DJI’s browser-based drone simulator. Although there has been no official announcement from DJI, users can access the simulator by going to start.dji.com. Currently available only in Chinese, users may need to rely on Google Translate to navigate the instructions.
Set in a futuristic city with towering buildings, the drone simulator provides users with an open-world playground to practice flying skills. While the graphics may appear rudimentary, the in-game physics are comparable to flying a real DJI drone. Users control the virtual drone using a combination of four-letter keys representing the left stick of a drone controller and four cursor keys, which control the drone’s roll and pitch.
The simulator also offers users three different views, including a third-person view of the drone in the sky, an on-board view complete with a GPS map in the corner, and a view of two hands holding a controller with a tablet acting as a viewfinder. Users can also take photos and videos using the ‘P’ and ‘L’ keys.
While the simulator is a fun diversion for drone enthusiasts looking to sharpen their flying skills, it appears to be temperamental. Users have reported regular warnings about the network being too slow, which drops the frame rate to unusable levels. DJI has not announced any ultimate aim for the drone simulator, but it could be a handy tool for new pilots to get a feel for the physics and muscle memory needed to fly drones.
DJI drones are geo-restricted around airports, and users cannot take off or fly within the restricted zones. The drone simulator is unrelated to any real-world events, but it can help users avoid accidents while flying a real drone.
There is no information on whether DJI intends to officially release or announce the browser game. DJI has yet to respond to media inquiries regarding the simulator. Regardless, drone enthusiasts can enjoy honing their flying skills in a virtual futuristic city with DJI’s browser-based drone simulator.
