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Wiki - Plugins

Is this the most powerful simulator for developers?

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Menus

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Functions

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Views

Viewports    Secondary Viewport    Map Viewport    VLOS View    Camera View    Chase View    Free View

Plugins

Plugins    FrSky Telemetry

Licenses

USB & Licenses    How to Enter an Activation Key    How to Redeem a Voucher    USB Serial Number & License Information

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Wiki / Plugins / Plugins

Plugins

Plugins for AeroSIM-RC

A plugin is a piece of software that is added to the simulator, allowing the emulation of real OSD, Auto Pilots, Ground Station, etc. and which are created by the same developers of the real devices.

Plugin capabilities

A plugin can perform many functions:

- OSD (see demo plugin)

- Run auto-pilot code (see demo plugin)

- Communicate with a Ground Station

Benefits for Users

- Users can familiarise and learn to use the emulated equipment.

Benefits for Developers

- Speed up the development of your OSD, AutoPilot, etc.

- Can do hundreds of flight tests at zero risk, with zero time overhead, and comfortably at the lab while raining outside.

- Can push the flight tests beyond the safety limit since there is no risk involved in the simulation. Thus, achieving an increased reliability in real life.

- Free demo platform for potential customers to try your product.

Information for Developers

If I were interested in developing a Plugin, where do I start?

Firstly, edit file config2.txt and set I_AM_DEVELOPER_OF_PLUGIN to 1.
This will enable new options in the Plugin menu, and a new debug menu item.

The file config2.txt can be found in the output folder:
Windows Version Output Folder
Windows 10 C:\Users\Public\Documents\AeroSIM_RC
Windows 7,8 C:\ProgramData\AeroSIM_RC
Windows XP C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Program Data\AeroSIM_RC
Note: the folder may be hidden, so you need to enable 'show hidden files' in Explorer Folder Options.

Then play around with the DemoPlugin and try all its menu options.

And after that, have a look at the demo source files. These can be found in the folder \Plugin\PluginDemo\src, under the AeroSIM-RC installation folder.

Most of the information you will need is in this file:
C:\Program Files (x86)\AeroSIM-RC\Plugin\PluginDemo\src\Plugin.h

The demo plugin illustrates:
- how to define a custom menu
- how to change aircraft position (useful to repeat tests from same position, velocity, attitude, etc.)
- a simple aileron autopilot that takes the roll angle and move the ailerons to keep roll at 0º
- a simple elevator autopilot that takes the pitch angle and move the elevator to keep pitch at 0º
- a OSD with a simplified MAX7456 emulation
- a simple HUD

PluginDemo.vcproj is the project file for Visual Studio. The plugin demo is programmed in C.

Briefly

1. To create a plugin, you write a DLL consisting basically on a function that will be called from AeroSIM-RC in each simulation cycle.
2. This function receives the flight data (position, velocity, acceleration, angles, height above the ground and stick positions)
3. The function returns a data structure to optionally overwrite the stick positions, aircraft variables, and OSD display.

Some details

A Plugin is composed of the following files:

File Description
plugin_AeroSIMRC.dll plugin itself
plugin.txt

a text file with the description and menu configuration

...

any other file required by your code

The plugin name is taken from the folder where the files can be found. No spaces are allowed in the name.

In the sample plugin, PluginDemo is the name of the plugin, and its files are found in C:\Program Files\AeroSIM-RC\Plugin\PluginDemo

Help for developers

There is more information in the source code, and in any case, send us an email if you need help to create your plugin or need any new feature.

Wiki / Plugins / FrSky Telemetry

FrSky Telemetry

This plugin generates a FrSky Smart Port telemetry data stream.

The plugin is open source, and it outputs the following sensor information:

Sensor Information
ALTITUDE Barometer based altitude, relative to home location.
VSPEED Vertical speed (cm/s)
CURRENT Current (A)
VBAT Battery voltage (Voltage FrSky Ampere Sensor)
FLYMODE ARM, MAN, ATT, GPS, ALT, RTH
GPS_STATE GPS lock status, accuracy, home reset trigger, and number of satellites.
DISTANCE Distance to GPS home fix
PITCH, ROLL, HEADING Angles
FUEL Remaining fuel/battery percentage
GPS GPS coordinates
GALT GPS altitude, sea level is zero
GSPEED Ground speed provided by GPS (knots)
CELL_VOLTAGE Battery cell voltage
RSSI Received Signal Strength Indicator

The data is output to other devices through one of the serial ports of the computer running AeroSIM-RC

The COM port number and baud rate are selected by editing the following files:
   C:\Program Files (x86)\AeroSIM_RC\Plugin\FrSkyTelemetry\COM_PORT_NUMBER.txt
   C:\Program Files (x86)\AeroSIM_RC\Plugin\FrSkyTelemetry\COM_PORT_BAUD_RATE.txt

The Telemetry data generated by AeroSIM-RC can be used in many ways. Here are two practical examples.

Example 1: Telemetry on a Tablet or Phone

Telemetry Viewer App 'iNav SmartPort telemetry viewer and logger'

Telemetry on Tablet.

Top screen: AeroSIM-RC simulator.
Bottom screen: Tablet with App "iNav SmartPort telemetry viewer"

You need:


How to set up:

  1. On your tablet or phone, install the App.
  2. On your computer, create a COM port via Bluetooth:
    (Windows settings ➞ Bluetooth settings ➞ Turn on Bluetooth ➞ More Bluetooth options ➞ COM ports ➞ Add... ➞ Incoming)
  3. Write the COM port number just created in the file
    C:\Program Files (x86)\AeroSIM_RC\Plugin\FrSkyTelemetry\COM_PORT_NUMBER.txt
  4. Run AeroSIM-RC and open the FrSky Telemetry plugin. On the FrSky Telemetry menu, click on Serial Port Open.
  5. Run the App on the tablet, and click on "Connect" to establish communications via Bluetooth with the computer.
  6. Enjoy!

Example 2: Telemetry on the Remote Controller display

AeroSIM-RC generated FrSky Telemetry displayed on a Taranis

AeroSIM-RC generated FrSky Telemetry displayed on a Taranis
From left to right: FrSky XSR receiver, FrSky STK, AeroSIM-RC wireless USB interface, FrSky Taranis Plus

You need:

How to set up:

  1. Install the LUA script on your Remote Controller.
  2. Connect the STK to the computer, and find it's COM port number in Windows Device Manager.
  3. Open the file
    C:\Program Files (x86)\AeroSIM_RC\Plugin\FrSkyTelemetry\COM_PORT_NUMBER.txt
    and write the COM port number of the STK.
  4. Run AeroSIM-RC and open the FrSky Telemetry plugin. On the FrSky Telemetry menu, click on Serial Port Open.
  5. On the Remote Controller:
    - Go to the TELEMETRY page, and click on "Discover new sensors".
    - Go to the DISPLAY page, and assign the LUA script to Screen 1.
    - Exit all menus.
    - Long press on button "Page" to run the telemetry script.
  6. Enjoy!

Wiki - Plugins

Is this the most powerful simulator for developers?

Start

Welcome    Download    Updates    Install    Graphics Driver    Starting AeroSIM-RC    Minimum Requirements    Safety    Mac    Help

Quick Start Guide

Purpose    Download    Install    Remote Controller set-up    First Run    Operational Readiness Test    Multirotor Training Program    Fixed-Wing Training Program    Further Training

Training

Pilot Name    Pilot Manager    Logbook    Certificate    Training Programs    Multirotor    Aircraft    Helicopter

Controller

Controller Choice    USB Interface    Wireless Control    Controller FS-i6S    Controllers Screen    Controller Calibration    Controller Configuration    Keys    Mouse with TX

Aircraft

Aircraft List    Select Aircraft    Aircraft Initial Position    Airplane Tuning    Start / Stop    Enhancement    Hand-Launch    Fuel and Battery    Aircraft Editor

Scenarios

Scenarios    User Generated Scenarios    Sharing Scenarios    How to Create Scenario

Menus

Top Menu Bar    Bottom Menu Bar

Functions

Instrument Panel    OSD    Warning Panel    Wind    Day/Night    Record and Replay Flights    Game Mode    Sun Blindness    Birds    Settings

Views

Viewports    Secondary Viewport    Map Viewport    VLOS View    Camera View    Chase View    Free View

Plugins

Plugins    FrSky Telemetry

Licenses

USB & Licenses    How to Enter an Activation Key    How to Redeem a Voucher    USB Serial Number & License Information

Advanced

Custom Logo    Uninstall    Uninstall Graphic Driver    Install Graphic Driver

Solutions

Diagnostics Screen    USB is working?    USB not detected?    Remote Controller signal not detected?    Control Problems?    Devices and Printers    Windows 10    Program Crash    Invisible Mouse    Broken USB    Repairing USB not detected