Summary
The drone market is rapidly evolving, leading to an increased need for trained professionals. Simulation is a powerful tool to facilitate UAS education, but the current options for simulation-based training are limited. The new SIMNET Academy platform provides an ideal solution for simulation-based UAS training, by combining theoretical lessons with practical simulated flight training within a user-friendly web-based format. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University is now leveraging the SIMNET Academy platform to expand its world-class academic offering with hands-on simulated experiences on UAS design and operation that complement its curriculum. Contact us today to learn how your institution can use the SIMNET Academy platform to deliver customized training content at scale, with minimal time and resource investment. Try SIMNET for free today using the following link (limited trials available): bit.ly/simnet-academy-trial
The commercial market for drones has grown significantly over recent years, with drones being used for tasks such as aerial photography and videography, surveying, mapping, and agriculture. Additionally, there has been an increase in the use of drones for Beyond-Visual-Line-of-Sight (BVLoS) operations such as package delivery. As technology continues to improve and regulations become more defined, it is expected that the market for drones will continue to grow and evolve. This growth has led to a need for skilled professionals who are able to develop and operate these complex systems. As a result, many academic and training institutions have begun to offer courses and degrees in UAV technology. These programs typically cover topics such as aerodynamics, propulsion systems, navigation, and remote sensing. Additionally, many professional organizations and industry groups are offering certification programs for drone pilots and operators. This education and certification are important for people who want to work in the drone industry or use drones in their business.
However, training pilots using physical UAS presents several difficulties, such as limited access to flying fields due to weather conditions, the inherent safety risks of flight, and the expense of purchasing and operating these systems. Simulation plays a crucial role in the training of professionals across various industries by providing a low-cost, secure and controlled environment where they can perfect their skills, and encounter a wide range of situations and conditions that may be difficult to replicate in reality. Yet, current options for UAS simulation-based training are scarce, mostly consisting of basic free-flight simulators that cannot simulate autonomous flight or be customized to a specific curriculum, aircraft types, or training scenarios.
SIMNET Academy (www.simnet.aero/academy) is a cloud-based training solution that aims to establish itself as the new standard for simulation-based training in the drone industry. It combines a web-based Learning Management System for theoretical lessons and student progress monitoring, with a web-based UAS simulator for customized practical flight lessons. The training content is highly adaptable to the specific needs of a company, academic, or training institution. It can simulate any type of UAS configuration, including multicopters, fixed-wing, VTOL, and helicopters, and can be configured to reproduce specific UAS brands and models. It not only simulates manual flight, but also autonomous flight planning and execution, through turnkey Software-In-The-Loop simulation of ArduPilot and PX4 flight control systems. SIMNET Academy also includes a worldwide 3D terrain model capable of simulating geo-specific and task-specific environments. SIMNET Academy is easily accessible through a web-based portal, making it simple to distribute on a large scale without the need for software installation, updates, or hardware compatibility issues. This makes it an ideal platform for delivering high-quality training content at scale.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) is now leveraging the SIMNET Academy platform to expand its world-class academic offering with hands-on simulated experiences on UAS design and operation that complement its curriculum. ERAU is a private university that specializes in aviation and aerospace education. It was founded in 1926 and has its main campus in Daytona Beach, Florida, with additional campuses in Prescott, Arizona, and worldwide locations. ERAU is one of the largest and most respected aviation and aerospace universities in the world. It offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in a wide range of fields, including aeronautics, aerospace engineering, and aviation business. ERAU also offers a comprehensive and diverse offering in unmanned systems education and research, from undergraduate to graduate level, providing students and professionals with the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed in the field of UAV technology.
SIMNET Academy supplements ERAU's Worldwide Campus curriculum with hands-on simulated training lessons on UAS operation, including basic skills for manual flight, regulations for UAS operations, and planning and execution of autonomous missions. Its web-based format enables students worldwide to access it through their own computers, making it an especially useful addition to ERAU's online learning program.
Additionally, SIMNET Academy provides students with simulated hands-on experiences that go beyond UAS operation. With SIMNET's design features, students can gain an understanding of the various components that comprise a UAV and how they work together to enable flight. Through SIMNET's Performance Pane', students can experiment with the aircraft design and observe the impact on the aircraft's performance, including factors such as flight time, range, and maximum speed. As a final project, students are given the task of designing their own multicopter aircraft to meet the requirements of a specific aerial reconnaissance mission. The students must design the aircraft, then plan and execute an autonomous mission to demonstrate their abilities and the effectiveness of their design.
SIMNET Academy is now available for academic institutions around the globe. Contact us today to learn how your institution can leverage the platform to deliver customized training content at scale, with minimal time and resource investment. Try SIMNET for free today using the following link (limited trials available): bit.ly/simnet-academy-trial
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