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To run the Real Drone Simulator (RDS), you'll need to create a free user account for the Windows version.
You can register here:
Real Drone Simulator Registration.
For Android users, note that the version is not updated yet. It currently works without a user account, but online features are temporarily disabled until the next update.
Additionally, it is not available in the Play Store, so you'll need to download and install it manually.
Follow the installation guide here:
Real Drone Simulator Guides.
Once you've registered and downloaded the simulator for Windows you should install it. If you plan to install it on the C: drive, run the installer as an Administrator (right-click the setup file and select Run as Administrator).
If the simulator is installed correctly, it will start with a login screen after clicking the "Fly" button in the main menu.
If you encounter issues such as frozen menus or an unknown logged-in user, a necessary Windows library (Mono) might be missing.
You can download Mono here: Mono Download.
After launching RDS, enter your login details for online authorization. This will also register the simulator for offline use. For offline authorization only, log in to your RDS account on the website, copy the "Offline Serial," and, in the RDS login screen, click the "Offline Authorization" link. Enter your email and paste the offline serial to complete the process.
RDS includes a built-in tutorial to guide you through selecting your first drone and using the RDS Configurator. The Configurator is similar to the popular Betaflight Configurator, commonly used by FPV drone pilots. For instance, the PID Tuning tab and Rate Mixing feature (which dictates how the drone responds to stick inputs) use the Betaflight source code. You can learn more about rate mixing by checking out guides or videos about Betaflight.
For beginners, RDS offers several preset options like Beginner, Freestyle, Racing, and a preset for Game Controllers.
The latest public version of RDS launches with nearly maxed-out graphics settings, so it's a good idea to check how many frames per second (FPS) you're getting during flights. A minimum of 60 FPS is recommended for realistic physics and precise controls. RDS offers three prototype maps, two of which — Monastery Ruins and Stephen Mine — demand higher performance.
If you experience lag, you can adjust visual effects and vegetation rendering in the RDS Configurator under the "System" tab. Effects like Screen Reflection, Volumetric Lights, and Ambient Occlusion require more performance. Lowering vegetation distance and density can also help with lag on maps with heavy foliage. However, avoid setting the Graphics Quality below "High." If you need a performance boost, lowering the resolution one step from the maximum in the main menu can make a significant difference.
After adjusting settings in the RDS Configurator, click the "Save" button, then the "Retry" button in the top-right corner to apply changes, as many settings require the scene to reload.
Any USB-HID-compatible RC radio should work seamlessly with RDS. Radios using the default AETR channel layout are typically plug-and-play. For OpenTX or EdgeTX radios, it's recommended to create a new model for RDS with the AETR1234 layout and to disable internal and external RF modules to preserve battery life and avoid using radio modules during virtual flights.
Game controllers can also be used, but since their stick neutral positions are in the center, they may cause 50% throttle for FPV drones. To address this, RDS has an option in the "Receiver" tab of the Configurator called "Throttle Zero at Center," which adjusts the throttle behavior. Note that this reduces throttle precision to 50%.
If you need to calibrate your RC radio, run RDS as Administrator to ensure the calibration data is saved correctly.
To set RDS to always run as Administrator, right-click the RDS icon, go to Properties → Compatibility, and check "Run as Administrator."
To assign channels and calibrate your input device, navigate to Main Menu → Options → Input Manager, or go to the "Receiver" tab in RDS Configurator.
In the Input Manager, check if your device is recognized. If not, unplug and reconnect it.
Assign channels by clicking the "Set" button and moving the corresponding stick. The stick's position will be displayed on a 3D radio model once it's assigned correctly.
You can also configure switches and buttons as auxiliary inputs in the "Modes" tab.
If you notice issues like inverted inputs, incorrect end points (should be 1000μs for low and 2000μs for high), or non-centered values (should be 1500μs), go to the Calibrate Controller submenu to fine-tune these settings.
Most of the hotkeys are displayed on-screen during flights via the OSD at the bottom, but here's a quick reference:
While it's possible to fly with a keyboard, it’s not recommended. For keyboard controls, W-A-S-D controls the left stick, and the arrow keys control the right stick.
The drones can be armed when the throttle is set to 0%.