Russian Scientists Develop Virtual Drone Flight Simulator for AI Testing

A new simulator from Moscow aims to make drone AI safer by testing flight algorithms in hyper-realistic digital environments before deployment.

Researchers at the Moscow Aviation Institute are developing a universal digital platform to simulate unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flights. The project is designed to reduce both the risk and cost of integrating artificial intelligence into drone control systems. The simulator allows testing of everything from takeoff and landing to complex maneuvers and long-range flights.

Vadim Kondaratsev, head of Laboratory No. 8 for Artificial Intelligence at the institute, said the platform enables comprehensive AI testing — including navigation during communication loss and processing of computer vision data. What sets the simulator apart is its flexibility and use of modern game engines, including Russia’s own Unigine, which helps create photorealistic environments with features like infrared imaging.

A pilot version of the simulator is already being tested by an industrial partner. According to Kondaratsev, its key advantage is the ability to simulate not only individual flight elements but the entire operational environment — making it one of the most advanced solutions in the field of drone technology.