Alex Perry - Quantum Magnetics

The FlightGear Flight Simulator

FlightGear is a superb open source flight simulation project, offering the pilot's view of the cockpit and of the 3D scenery. The simulator pilot uses joystick, keyboard, yoke, pedals and other input devices to fly any of dozens of realistic aircraft around the world.

In order to run well on a commodity computer system, XML files determine which software modules are to be used and configure each so they integrate as the desired simulation. Individual files for aircraft, engines, instruments and other common components enables the simulation to reuse these files much like aircraft manufacturers reuse engines and instruments.

Connections between software modules are resolved to objects using a hierarchical namespace that is common to code and XML. The same namespace is exposed as a network service, enabling external software to monitor and modify the simulator state.

This talk introduces the scientific and engineering challenges and presents some work currently in progress.

Slides

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