Hello. After watching your video It occurred to me to program an easy game in which a paraglider follows the algorithm yo mention to center thermals. I hope you enjoy it.
scratch.mit.edu/projects/227069852/#fullscreen Dude this is AWESOME!! it makes my original explanation a lot shorter and a lot easier to visualize! How long did it take you do make it? Super well done sir :)
Hey! Just wanna say that I watched your video the day before yesterday, then flew for 2.5hrs for the first time as a direct result of using your formula! It really does work! I felt like a pro... only got my license last year! So thanks a lot.
That's awesome to know! I remember that feeling of going up and up and up :D It's not my formula though, glider and hang-glider pilots have been using this since before paragliders were invented.
Andre thank you very much for sharibg this method to find the core of the thermals. Im Hang glider pilot and yesterday I practiced it. I improved my performance a lot, and I can't understand how nobody explained this to me in my flight club. I appreciate it. I could find the core in three differents thermals. Greate !!!
4 years late to the party, but I wanted to share that this method saw me through my first XC flight (it was my first attempt and I managed to reach my goal, if I quit now I'll have a 100% success ratio), so thank you!
I just learned about thermals...and excually understand them like i didnt not before!!! Very nice explanation! Good Video's and solid Info!!! Keep it up! Thanks for sharing!
You two just developed a training aid for an instructor to use in a classroom. It's practical knowledge before you actually get out there and do it, worth it's weight in gold. Keep up the good work.
You just changed paragliding for ever. All the stakeholders that will want to gain influence and benefit from this will be getting excited. You'll open up paragliding to a whole population that doesn't know about it. The great thing is you've done it by being customer focused and engaged.
Wow, you have totally demystified how to core a thermal. I was thinking of taking this a step further. Imagine sitting in Simulator and the toggles control your turning and you have VR goggles in. Awesome way to train a pilot.
Great work Andre and Ricardo! Keep it stripped down and simple, it's unique and best as a learning tool. There are already 3d PG flight sims out there, and making it complex and programming heavy would detract from the power you can get out of a simple tool to teach the skill of centreing. For PC, left and right sticky keys, with space bar to go hands up. For mobile, tip the phone left/right to turn. In both cases, if you turn too tight, spin the wing and lose lots of height, to train the concept of not turning too tightly. Make it a closed circuit 'race' ... always start at 100m and time it to 1000m, that way you can compare the efficiency of different strategies. It may be that the turn-reversal, or tighten-on-lift technique is better .. playing with all three will be educational. When you get to 1000m, it reveals your coloured circles so you can confirm if you got it right. If you get to 0m, the game switches off ;-)
Thanks for that Greg, really appreciate the input! For me personally I'm inclined to take it the sandbox/simulator route so that can best be used as a learning tool. There are a few 3D parasims out there that just feel a bit clunky or incomplete. I do have some really exciting ideas about control methods though :) don't think keyboard or mouse is the way to go, and also think it should start slow and 2D where you learn basic concepts like thermaling or speedbar use (because that's the only way to get through the level) but then i think using the same platform other things like 3D races could be built on top of it. Kind of like doing tutorials and learning for those who want/need but also a way for more experience pilots to train/practice other things like decision making or gaggle flying. So many ideas :)
So basically you follow the rules until you think you found the spot. So the rules only apply to finding the centre. Ah yes, that's the title of the video for a reason! Ha ha great. Best video I've seen so far (and I've been looking around a bit). Fantastic video, even better info! I will be flying next week and looking forward to applying this knowledge. Thank you so much. Given that it's 4 years since you made this video I won't bother with a comment for Ricardo. Guess those decisions have been made already.
This concept is so simple but genius. Not even in the flight school was it taught in such a simple way. This algorithm should be implemented in each vario.
This is great André, I would add information from thermal maps, they are now available thanks to the tracks uploaded by multiple pilots, it could be a nice add-on to the simulator, so people could play over a terrain with thermals tight to real-life conditions, bye-bye random placement of thermals.
Great idea. As some others stated there are already 3D PG sims online. Added value of your program/app could be in its simplicity, focusing on simulation of the basic dynamics of thermals and brakes. Gaming is by the way a very effective training tool. I'm working in the aerospace sector and we have joint teams of game designers and HMI specialists developing education and training tools for very complex interactions. So for me you're on the right track! ;-)
I'm new to flying and only just staring to try catch thermals, this explanation gives me a good structure to follow when I'm out there trying, and the computer program as a phone app would allow me to train coring thermals making it more intuitive in my flying. I'd love to see it kept simple and made public. Thanks for the hard work.
I have slightly different theory but the simulator was AWESOME. Basically I would start turning when the lift is stable and no more increasing rather than waiting for it to drop. I would turn flat until it is stable, and bank hard if it starts dropping. Many such theories can be tested on the simulator. But the best part would be if you can put the simulator on 1) Google map in 3D; 2) somehow manage to channel the wind through terrain, with the option to increase/ decrease wind and change direction 3) Put the thermals in simulation based on the actual thermal heatmaps available in different websites from historic flight data. 4) Some random thermals here and there otherwise 5) Option to have a random wing collapse and increase/ decrease number of collapses. If all this is done, the pilots could actually simulate flying at different locations and practice before going to the site. This would be very helpful for 1) New pilots venturing out on XCs 2) Predict wind behavior/ Rotors in mountains. Results increased Safety and better performance. Good Luck!
This is great!! Thank you so much for your insight. Very well explained for beginners as myself. Excited to hear more about the game/app module. Thanks RICARDO.!! 🙏🏼
This has huge potential. Just imagine integrating Google Earth images as terrain and adding invisible thermal trigger points according to ground color and also wind drift. Thermals could vary in strength and some could be broken up just like in real life, randomly generated. I can see it as a strictly 2D multiplayer XC simulation.
i have watched tons of hang gliding videos, i have never heard a hang gliding pilot explain this, i dont know a lot about it, but i do know understanding weather and thermals are very important,.thanks for sharing the information. i am interested in the game!
the work is great. I suggest that for the initial release need to have separate left and right controls for the respective drag lines- the left and right control keys on a std keyboard. later version can have physical pull ropes attached to the ceiling as inputs connected by blue tooth to the computer. need to have an overlay of terrain with some logic to the placement of thermals. worth thinking about
That’s great! I’ll soon start paragliding and this is going to be so helpful! As a learner, it would be interesting to be able to choose different class wings and see how they react. Maybe in low wind, strong wind etc.
Merci pour cette démonstration ça me semblais un peu flou de trouver les thermiques, j'avais l'impression que ça tenait plus du hasard que d'autre chose, en fait c'est mathématique ! 👍👍
Very insightful! Thank you for the explanation. It has given me a much better understanding of thermalling and what appears to be a fundamental in paragliding - I will bear all of this in mind when I'm learning to paraglide this summer!
Please consider setting it up for hang gliders and sailplanes as well. Big value as learning tool. If you can design an interface that works with a simple consumer game joystick, then it could be incorporated into a practical simulator using a full scale hang glider harness and control bar or pg harness simulator with brake lines. This added realism works real well on the simulator I've used in the past with flight game software.
Dude , I’m very impressed . This is a fantastic video for ALL pilots , especially beginners , explaining thermals etc . Good luck with the game , ill be one fo the first to download it .
*Good stuff!* I am brand new to soaring, and this video has been an excellent way for me to get my head around what my instructors are always trying to do! Many thanks.
Personally, I would prefer if this was learning tool, with the possibility to have the thermals drift according to a wind gradient. Thank you for reaching out to the community!
Also, if you can do it in 3D you can then simulate ridge flying/thermalling with multiple wings in a congested environment to teach new pilots about collision avoidance and right of way rules. My ideal would be to get it like a Hazard Perception test that is done for motoring, making all new pilots safer by allowing them to achieve greater skill, anticipation and quicker 'think time' in a safe non threatening environment that allows repetition in their own time to achieve competence that could be predictably measured against a standard. VR would be next level of course ! Imagine if this never happened ... th-cam.com/video/rGQalpDCjDk/w-d-xo.html
Hi man that's a great way of doing it... since i fly with no instremnts i think a better way to do it is to use weightshift toward whatever side pulls up first, normally there where the core is then use the brake to control your turning it works everytime
This is fantastic. You’re absolutely right about the many possibilities. I’d love to see a few things; a learning tool that incorporates lessons with the flying. terrain range from dune soaring to x-alps with adjustable conditions and 3D As someone else mentioned actual brake toggles to pull on instead of sliders. You could use the same things from the unstallable wing project. Why not weight shift too? Multiplayer online would be great especially if you could put all of it together with a VR head set. Bandarra World Cup here I come! I have no idea how to do any of this so I applaud what you’ve done so far. Keep up the good work and make sure you get time to actually fly!
I'm so glad I found you on TH-cam! what a fantastic video! loved how well you explain the formula to center a thermal. im new to Hang gliding but it's the same theory... I'm sure you and Ricardo are going to get very busy from this video..the idea of a learning tool as an app for pilots to practice and learn the techniques will be great and also can see a game being extremely popular... I'm not a gamer at all but would absolutely love to play a flying game where I can learn new skills and compete with other pilots all over the world! you just won lotto! enjoy the ride!
Your introduction for centering and the demonstration of it in the game was just great! Thank you! I would love it as an educational tool. Just for getting used to those two rules. I don't need much in the first version of the game. Simple 2d as you showed it and later 3d and all the other stuff would be nice ;o) Keep up your great work! And a Tutorial for the game programming would be also great!!! ;o)
Very good ideea, i suggest to have a background picture like you see in the air. and to have a multiple game session with different pictures and random thermal core. During the game the thermal core is not visible but at the end of the game (10-20 minutes)you should see the thermal core (one color) and your track in a different color.
Also interested in ALL of that!!!!! Training at home, awesome.... I actually have the Oculus Quest and was already searching for some virtual reality training games - DO THAT, would be awesome!!!!!
Great. In fact really great. If you can add temperature wind speed direction and thermal triggers on the land I believe it's going to be perhaps the very best learning tool for every pilot. Good luck to you.
I love that you and your friend are doing this! It'd be cool to use geographical data from google earth and overlay the game on it. Having thermals occur in places they naturally would, turbulent lee sides and other variables would be fun to play with. What an awesome idea you've come up with! I could see even non paragliders having fun with it.
thanks! definitely something to consider. I think the terrain model from google earth is quite limited but i really like the idea of being able to fly all over the world
Check this out for inspiration. It's a sailplane sim for both Android and iOS. I think it's using Google maps tarrain surface as well. It also supports online racing. I spent some quality time with chatting with other soaring enthusiasts in it. I think your idea has a potential to be even more sophisticated mini sim that can actually contribute to our real flying skills. xtremesoaring3d.com/
It's AWSOME!!! Thank you very much for pursuing this project. I think there is a need for it. I would do it 2d and evolve to 3d once it gets traction, you could pull the data of previous flies from Skyways to get realistic thermals, and even compare then simulated flies Vs real ones. "what if I would have ... in my previous fly" and of course a great tool for newbies (like me) to test thermaling skills. It's amazing men! I can't wait to see what comes out of this
Very cool!! Thank you for the explanation. Learning tool in 3D please!!!! With TWO controls on a touch screen for left and right thumbs, sliding up and down each thumb would equate to pulling brake on respective side. Adding wind would be even better.
This is exactly what I was looking for in App Store like hundered times. Simulator/game whatever, I woudl pay for it. Love the multiplayer idea. Make it real please!
Following flying aimlessly about as I start to learn the art of thermalling, a sim like this would be awesome. Ideally levels of difficulty (size and/or drift of thermal) as well as ground trigger point indications for me to fly toward would be great.
I would see the need for ground terrain interpretation as a second step. First i would like to see more real life elements in the game like down wind on thermal lee side, downbursts, change of speed and direction of wind, work with speedbar, maybe even some kind of interpretation of random *stall accidents in harsh conditions. Thanks for the effort
Dude this is awesome!!!! i want to start this trip nezt year so i started to search all it is available. i was looking for such perfect explanation! Thank U!!!
As an X assembly code/micro controller programmer I would like to know how Ricardo put it together, but MUCH MORE (looking at what he has already achieved) I would like him to continue so that we can buy it (ASAP). This will allow Ricardo to continue improving it and you to do continue what you love doing and we can play with it and hone in our skills. Recommendations as follows:- version 1: 2d as shown, version 2 3D, version 3 POV 3D with brake handles etc version 4 same as 3 with look around ability version 5 same as 4 with indication on which side of the wing is lifting. version 6 same as 5 but with realistic ground mapping. This does suit a laptop or game computer more than a cellphone because they will have more graphical grunt and can be attached to 1 or more BIG screens. Why not do it? you have skills!! provide Upgrade discounts for people who have previous version (this supports your loyal base) GREAT DEAL
This is the development so far :) th-cam.com/video/hRmYQm9Qp-A/w-d-xo.html And this is what we have working at the moment rcastro.itch.io/paragame Thanks for the support! :)
I like your videos so much, I must visit you some time. Im a glider pilot since I am 17 (51 years now) and since 2 years I am paragliding too. Just made my first xc-flights in the Alps and they worked well (30 and 50 km). Your explanation is ok. But there are some things which should be kept in mind. First the vario is reacting with some delay, so if you only listen to your vario (don´t look at it, you have to watch the airspace!), your reactions are too late. So you have to develop a spacial imaginaton of he thermal and where in the thermal you are, so that you can anticipate what is coming. What I do is, I imagin the thermal as a mountain. The center oft he thermal is the peak of the mountain an I try to circle around that peak. And don´t relay to much on the vario, you feel the thermals much faster (upwords acceleration, kite reaction and so on). Second thermals mostly are changing all the time, they are wobbeling upwords and the position if the „center“ is changing. That applies especially to cold air masses. Warm air masses produce softer, bigger thermals. So if you hit the peak oft he mountain (center oft he thermal) in one circle it will not nessessary be there in the next circle. That means you have to adapt your mountain model permanently. And sometimes there really are two ore even three peaks.
Awesome rule! It should be possible to hook a variometer and GPS together and calculate the center and size of a thermal to visualize it on screen. I would try that someday.
i love your explanation so much!!!! thank you!!! I don't have a vario i wonder if you or your programmer friend could figure out a way to use the smart phone as vario meter..
Just came across this, interesting! I wonder if there has been any progress on the project, maybe I'm about to find out when I watch some of your newer videos.. 👍🏻
Introduce wind so that the thermal moves. Also make it into an mobile phone app with multiplayer capability that has high scores, daily, weekly, all time high and so on. The multiplayer aspect would probably be really beneficial for people to learn the rules when flying.
Love ideas my inputs make a site w embedded game w leader boards and chat plus add extra features like choose wing trims then race slalom style live heads up... also teach about safety wing design stall certifications and serious nature of aviation.
Hi thank you for this explanation I definitely will try it in my next fly. I think it will be interesting as a learning tool and very cool as a game for cross country
Great concept Andre; as mentioned previously if you incorporate real wing aerodynamics and true 3D topography (easily obtainable) and then allow for variable meteorological conditions (esp windspeed/direction, lapse rate & sun strength/thermal generation rate) it would make a really interesting pre-flight XC planning aid..love to know how this develops - please keep us posted!
Thanks for the encouragement Rick. There are quite a few more developments out and a playable version on episode 4 :) th-cam.com/play/PLHqVk-6I8KNca4u4-6L7EPCPTA7i29xIv.html
Fantastic, I’m sure that a couple of years ago their was a PG simulator free online. I think it had something to do with the US navy. It used google maps so you could fly at your favourite sites all around the world. It was a great tool/game. Keep up the good work
I like the idea of the Google Earth, or other locales around the world. Kind of like existing car racing games where you pick the track and difficulty level. Being able to control not just left/right and seeing competitors would also be nice to see where the others are getting lift (maybe a hawk here and there?) Great concept.
What a super idea for training and keeping skills and thought processes sharp when not flying. I like the multiplayer xc game idea.. and I wonder if you could program in various weather/ wind patterns or even terrain features or rotor at all and simulate different basic collapse scenarios and have to react with proper brake inputs.. -or something like that.. I know graphics and maybe even haptic feedback might get complicated then but you're still reinforcing the right thought processes for recovery. Nice job. Love the ingenuity here on the channel and the ideas.
It looks really, really cool! To be honest, the first few seconds at the start of the video, I thought that there's plenty of PG games like that, but after your theory bit, and the demonstration of the game, I realized this is actually a simulator, *and* it looks especially useful (and cool too) Keep on it!
I want to add too, that even without the awesome thermal bits, the game looks much better than the run of the mill of mobile games. The ribbon path and the way the PG looks turning is so good. He really did a great job.
great idea - online game could be merged with logged data from flight - or logged data could be analysed after flight and then improved be gaming - sync with gopro!
The first time I’ve heard a Thermal described correctly as a “Column of rising air”. You may want to add that outside the thermal there is a sheet of cooler air moving downwards, caused by the displacement by air expanding upwards.
Hang up a harness with a couple of control lines to A to D convertors for inputs to the computer, computer output to vario audio and possible LCD. But just think if you could end up with a full on VR set-up. Wow what a learning tool.
Ahah, Steve a couple of days I say to Ricardo, now that I know a bit more about arduino i can make a little controller that you pull a couple of strings attached to potentiometers and you have a "paraglider game controller" to play on the computer, but what you're talking about it's some really next level stuff!!! Not impossible, but for sure next level! :D
Actually we have working something like this right now. Real physics are the most difficult part right now and we would need some help about aerodynamics and paraglider physics calculations (forces etc.). You are wellcome to join/follow our project if you like. Or if you know a person who knows paragliding physics and some mathematics behind it, let us know. We have write some formulas now, but our goal is to make as real physics as possible for full simulation experience. Early version of this simulator is available later in this year.
Sounds cool Jussi, would love to see your prototype. Me and Ricardo are working on the physics and aerodynamics as we speak so I hope to have the next video out soon so you can see better how it's working at the moment.
A vario that uses a camera, gps and augmented reality to show the current forward view with a cgi thermal projected in real time. This would make hunting thermals as easy as driving with a satnav.
Haha talk about taking it a few steps further.. Some would say it would take the thrill out of it, but personally I would be very impressed to see any system like this developed and carried out practically 😉 🤩
To get proficient, It'd be great to just use input based on (vario) sound, scored on altitude at the end. Eventually visual w/ terrain and clouds can be used to select better/best lift
Great instructional video, and so simply explained. Instead of listening to beeps on the vario(which are annoying) or constantly looking at the numbers, could the vario be programmed to say "Turn" or "Fly Straight" as appropriate?
I would help support an instructional type app. I’d even pay for the app! If this is exactly how one manages thermals, then this would be worth it’s weight in gold!
Hello.
After watching your video It occurred to me to program an easy game in which a paraglider follows the algorithm yo mention to center thermals.
I hope you enjoy it.
scratch.mit.edu/projects/227069852/#fullscreen
Dude this is AWESOME!! it makes my original explanation a lot shorter and a lot easier to visualize! How long did it take you do make it? Super well done sir :)
An inspired and properly caffeinated sunday afternoon
can you show us some footage of it? would be very interesting
@@AndreBandarra1
It's fantastic!
PLEASE !!!
Make second version with steering paraglider and invisible thermals !!!
@t
@@prokopcio Plus make it with vario latency to be set.
Hey! Just wanna say that I watched your video the day before yesterday, then flew for 2.5hrs for the first time as a direct result of using your formula! It really does work! I felt like a pro... only got my license last year! So thanks a lot.
That's awesome to know! I remember that feeling of going up and up and up :D It's not my formula though, glider and hang-glider pilots have been using this since before paragliders were invented.
@@AndreBandarra1 my third solo flight was 45 min thanks to a sailplane presentation on youtube (amongst other factors)
Andre thank you very much for sharibg this method to find the core of the thermals. Im Hang glider pilot and yesterday I practiced it. I improved my performance a lot, and I can't understand how nobody explained this to me in my flight club. I appreciate it. I could find the core in three differents thermals. Greate !!!
4 years late to the party, but I wanted to share that this method saw me through my first XC flight (it was my first attempt and I managed to reach my goal, if I quit now I'll have a 100% success ratio), so thank you!
That’s awesome! Thank you so much for letting us know! Obrigado Daniel 🤗
I just learned about thermals...and excually understand them like i didnt not before!!! Very nice explanation! Good Video's and solid Info!!! Keep it up! Thanks for sharing!
One of the simplest and best methods for finding the core that I've ever seen. Thanks. Keep up the good work.
You two just developed a training aid for an instructor to use in a classroom. It's practical knowledge before you actually get out there and do it, worth it's weight in gold. Keep up the good work.
You just changed paragliding for ever. All the stakeholders that will want to gain influence and benefit from this will be getting excited. You'll open up paragliding to a whole population that doesn't know about it. The great thing is you've done it by being customer focused and engaged.
Wow, you have totally demystified how to core a thermal. I was thinking of taking this a step further. Imagine sitting in Simulator and the toggles control your turning and you have VR goggles in. Awesome way to train a pilot.
Great work Andre and Ricardo! Keep it stripped down and simple, it's unique and best as a learning tool. There are already 3d PG flight sims out there, and making it complex and programming heavy would detract from the power you can get out of a simple tool to teach the skill of centreing. For PC, left and right sticky keys, with space bar to go hands up. For mobile, tip the phone left/right to turn. In both cases, if you turn too tight, spin the wing and lose lots of height, to train the concept of not turning too tightly. Make it a closed circuit 'race' ... always start at 100m and time it to 1000m, that way you can compare the efficiency of different strategies. It may be that the turn-reversal, or tighten-on-lift technique is better .. playing with all three will be educational. When you get to 1000m, it reveals your coloured circles so you can confirm if you got it right. If you get to 0m, the game switches off ;-)
Thanks for that Greg, really appreciate the input! For me personally I'm inclined to take it the sandbox/simulator route so that can best be used as a learning tool. There are a few 3D parasims out there that just feel a bit clunky or incomplete.
I do have some really exciting ideas about control methods though :) don't think keyboard or mouse is the way to go, and also think it should start slow and 2D where you learn basic concepts like thermaling or speedbar use (because that's the only way to get through the level) but then i think using the same platform other things like 3D races could be built on top of it. Kind of like doing tutorials and learning for those who want/need but also a way for more experience pilots to train/practice other things like decision making or gaggle flying. So many ideas :)
Yeah - good advice!
Can, please can you put here name or link for that 3D PG game/sim you are talking about? Thank you.
I liked the way you explained the way to find a thermal center. Thank you.
So basically you follow the rules until you think you found the spot. So the rules only apply to finding the centre. Ah yes, that's the title of the video for a reason! Ha ha great. Best video I've seen so far (and I've been looking around a bit). Fantastic video, even better info! I will be flying next week and looking forward to applying this knowledge. Thank you so much. Given that it's 4 years since you made this video I won't bother with a comment for Ricardo. Guess those decisions have been made already.
I’m laying in bed sick with COVID watching all your vids. Keeping me going. Can’t wait to fly again, thank you
This concept is so simple but genius. Not even in the flight school was it taught in such a simple way. This algorithm should be implemented in each vario.
Nice game with open chat community all over the world? To share experiences? Very nice! Love it
Never heard a better or more simpler explanation on how to navigate thermals!! Great job man👌happy flyin!
This is great André, I would add information from thermal maps, they are now available thanks to the tracks uploaded by multiple pilots, it could be a nice add-on to the simulator, so people could play over a terrain with thermals tight to real-life conditions, bye-bye random placement of thermals.
Great idea. As some others stated there are already 3D PG sims online. Added value of your program/app could be in its simplicity, focusing on simulation of the basic dynamics of thermals and brakes. Gaming is by the way a very effective training tool. I'm working in the aerospace sector and we have joint teams of game designers and HMI specialists developing education and training tools for very complex interactions. So for me you're on the right track! ;-)
Dude thank you so much. I’m new and was thermaling yesterday for the first time and I wasn’t getting it. This helps so much.
I'm new to flying and only just staring to try catch thermals, this explanation gives me a good structure to follow when I'm out there trying, and the computer program as a phone app would allow me to train coring thermals making it more intuitive in my flying. I'd love to see it kept simple and made public. Thanks for the hard work.
I have slightly different theory but the simulator was AWESOME. Basically I would start turning when the lift is stable and no more increasing rather than waiting for it to drop. I would turn flat until it is stable, and bank hard if it starts dropping. Many such theories can be tested on the simulator. But the best part would be if you can put the simulator on 1) Google map in 3D; 2) somehow manage to channel the wind through terrain, with the option to increase/ decrease wind and change direction 3) Put the thermals in simulation based on the actual thermal heatmaps available in different websites from historic flight data. 4) Some random thermals here and there otherwise 5) Option to have a random wing collapse and increase/ decrease number of collapses. If all this is done, the pilots could actually simulate flying at different locations and practice before going to the site. This would be very helpful for 1) New pilots venturing out on XCs 2) Predict wind behavior/ Rotors in mountains. Results increased Safety and better performance. Good Luck!
Virtual reality paragliding game would be exciting, including SIF
SUPER! I think its best to put it on webpage so everyone can use it and learn thermaling.
One of the best theory tutorial for finding thermal core that I've ever seen. A big thanks.
This is great!! Thank you so much for your insight. Very well explained for beginners as myself. Excited to hear more about the game/app module. Thanks RICARDO.!! 🙏🏼
Now I can understand the hi-lo beeps more clearer.This is So Logical. Thanks Andre this opened up the big door to sailing!
This has huge potential. Just imagine integrating Google Earth images as terrain and adding invisible thermal trigger points according to ground color and also wind drift. Thermals could vary in strength and some could be broken up just like in real life, randomly generated. I can see it as a strictly 2D multiplayer XC simulation.
i have watched tons of hang gliding videos, i have never heard a hang gliding pilot explain this, i dont know a lot about it, but i do know understanding weather and thermals are very important,.thanks for sharing the information. i am interested in the game!
The drawing was the best explanation I have seen on how to find and stay in a thermal. Cant wait to test the theory out. Thank you for that!
the work is great. I suggest that for the initial release need to have separate left and right controls for the respective drag lines- the left and right control keys on a std keyboard. later version can have physical pull ropes attached to the ceiling as inputs connected by blue tooth to the computer.
need to have an overlay of terrain with some logic to the placement of thermals.
worth thinking about
That’s great! I’ll soon start paragliding and this is going to be so helpful!
As a learner, it would be interesting to be able to choose different class wings and see how they react. Maybe in low wind, strong wind etc.
Merci pour cette démonstration ça me semblais un peu flou de trouver les thermiques, j'avais l'impression que ça tenait plus du hasard que d'autre chose, en fait c'est mathématique ! 👍👍
Great Video!!!!!! Make it a crosscountry-game!!!!
Drifting and collapse of thermals! Ricardo you must get this game up! I’d really be interested in playing it!!
Excellent video Thanks a lot! As a beginner pilot, can't wait to try it in the sky when season begins in Quebec.
Very insightful! Thank you for the explanation. It has given me a much better understanding of thermalling and what appears to be a fundamental in paragliding - I will bear all of this in mind when I'm learning to paraglide this summer!
Very cool . I would love to see it for a learning tool . Easy too understand. Thank You for great explanation .
Please consider setting it up for hang gliders and sailplanes as well. Big value as learning tool. If you can design an interface that works with a simple consumer game joystick, then it could be incorporated into a practical simulator using a full scale hang glider harness and control bar or pg harness simulator with brake lines.
This added realism works real well on the simulator I've used in the past with flight game software.
Very simple explanation. Tried it myself and helped me center thermals better. Thanks!
Dude , I’m very impressed . This is a fantastic video for ALL pilots , especially beginners , explaining thermals etc . Good luck with the game , ill be one fo the first to download it .
*Good stuff!* I am brand new to soaring, and this video has been an excellent way for me to get my head around what my instructors are always trying to do! Many thanks.
Personally, I would prefer if this was learning tool, with the possibility to have the thermals drift according to a wind gradient. Thank you for reaching out to the community!
3D game for sure. With racing other people around a course would be awesome!
Also, if you can do it in 3D you can then simulate ridge flying/thermalling with multiple wings in a congested environment to teach new pilots about collision avoidance and right of way rules. My ideal would be to get it like a Hazard Perception test that is done for motoring, making all new pilots safer by allowing them to achieve greater skill, anticipation and quicker 'think time' in a safe non threatening environment that allows repetition in their own time to achieve competence that could be predictably measured against a standard. VR would be next level of course ! Imagine if this never happened ...
th-cam.com/video/rGQalpDCjDk/w-d-xo.html
@@Egly443 Check out Glider Sim on Steam! Its a pretty amazing VR paragliding experience...
I think the game is an essential tool for us, I would so play it
Great Idea, pursue it further! 3d terrain, adjustable weather, XC missions, Thumb stick pitch and roll control would be fun.
As it is it's a very interesting tool. I'd love a VR game more...
Thanks!
Great idea, learning to flare when landing in no wind vs strong wind, experience stalls etc, keep going.
Super easy concept to understand!!! Ready to go try this in the air.
Hi man that's a great way of doing it... since i fly with no instremnts i think a better way to do it is to use weightshift toward whatever side pulls up first, normally there where the core is then use the brake to control your turning it works everytime
This is fantastic. You’re absolutely right about the many possibilities. I’d love to see a few things;
a learning tool that incorporates lessons with the flying.
terrain range from dune soaring to x-alps with adjustable conditions and 3D
As someone else mentioned actual brake toggles to pull on instead of sliders. You could use the same things from the unstallable wing project. Why not weight shift too?
Multiplayer online would be great especially if you could put all of it together with a VR head set.
Bandarra World Cup here I come!
I have no idea how to do any of this so I applaud what you’ve done so far. Keep up the good work and make sure you get time to actually fly!
Also a mobile version so I can spend hours and hours flying when it’s -40F here.
I'm so glad I found you on TH-cam! what a fantastic video! loved how well you explain the formula to center a thermal. im new to Hang gliding but it's the same theory...
I'm sure you and Ricardo are going to get very busy from this video..the idea of a learning tool as an app for pilots to practice and learn the techniques will be great and also can see a game being extremely popular...
I'm not a gamer at all but would absolutely love to play a flying game where I can learn new skills and compete with other pilots all over the world!
you just won lotto! enjoy the ride!
Collest idea! No specialist here, but think that mobile game would 'sell' more!
Success, man!
Your introduction for centering and the demonstration of it in the game was just great! Thank you!
I would love it as an educational tool. Just for getting used to those two rules. I don't need much in the first version of the game. Simple 2d as you showed it and later 3d and all the other stuff would be nice ;o)
Keep up your great work!
And a Tutorial for the game programming would be also great!!! ;o)
Compliments to your very effective and great style of explaining complex concepts. Keep the great work going on.
Very good ideea, i suggest to have a background picture like you see in the air. and to have a multiple game session with different pictures and random thermal core. During the game the thermal core is not visible but at the end of the game (10-20 minutes)you should see the thermal core (one color) and your track in a different color.
Also interested in ALL of that!!!!!
Training at home, awesome....
I actually have the Oculus Quest and was already searching for some virtual reality training games - DO THAT, would be awesome!!!!!
Great. In fact really great. If you can add temperature wind speed direction and thermal triggers on the land I believe it's going to be perhaps the very best learning tool for every pilot. Good luck to you.
Thanks for the support Kashif!
I love that you and your friend are doing this! It'd be cool to use geographical data from google earth and overlay the game on it. Having thermals occur in places they naturally would, turbulent lee sides and other variables would be fun to play with. What an awesome idea you've come up with! I could see even non paragliders having fun with it.
thanks! definitely something to consider. I think the terrain model from google earth is quite limited but i really like the idea of being able to fly all over the world
Check this out for inspiration. It's a sailplane sim for both Android and iOS. I think it's using Google maps tarrain surface as well. It also supports online racing. I spent some quality time with chatting with other soaring enthusiasts in it. I think your idea has a potential to be even more sophisticated mini sim that can actually contribute to our real flying skills.
xtremesoaring3d.com/
It's AWSOME!!!
Thank you very much for pursuing this project. I think there is a need for it. I would do it 2d and evolve to 3d once it gets traction, you could pull the data of previous flies from Skyways to get realistic thermals, and even compare then simulated flies Vs real ones. "what if I would have ... in my previous fly" and of course a great tool for newbies (like me) to test thermaling skills.
It's amazing men! I can't wait to see what comes out of this
I just found this simulator too. is worth taking a look.
paraglidinglogbook.com/simulator/
Very cool!! Thank you for the explanation. Learning tool in 3D please!!!! With TWO controls on a touch screen for left and right thumbs, sliding up and down each thumb would equate to pulling brake on respective side. Adding wind would be even better.
This is exactly what I was looking for in App Store like hundered times. Simulator/game whatever, I woudl pay for it. Love the multiplayer idea. Make it real please!
we'll try our best, thanks for the support dude!
Following flying aimlessly about as I start to learn the art of thermalling, a sim like this would be awesome. Ideally levels of difficulty (size and/or drift of thermal) as well as ground trigger point indications for me to fly toward would be great.
3d open world and educational with single/multiplayer ability. If I'm learning, I'm being entertained, so it is already a game!
EXCELLENT lesson. I will try it myself here in Oslob, Cebu Philippines. Thank you
Great !! I want that to train when I'm not flying because coring a thermal needs practice. From Brussels.
I would see the need for ground terrain interpretation as a second step. First i would like to see more real life elements in the game like down wind on thermal lee side, downbursts, change of speed and direction of wind, work with speedbar, maybe even some kind of interpretation of random *stall accidents in harsh conditions. Thanks for the effort
I'd most definitly say learning tool. VERY interesting!!
Dude this is awesome!!!! i want to start this trip nezt year so i started to search all it is available. i was looking for such perfect explanation! Thank U!!!
As an X assembly code/micro controller programmer I would like to know how Ricardo put it together, but MUCH MORE (looking at what he has already achieved) I would like him to continue so that we can buy it (ASAP). This will allow Ricardo to continue improving it and you to do continue what you love doing and we can play with it and hone in our skills. Recommendations as follows:-
version 1: 2d as shown,
version 2 3D,
version 3 POV 3D with brake handles etc
version 4 same as 3 with look around ability
version 5 same as 4 with indication on which side of the wing is lifting.
version 6 same as 5 but with realistic ground mapping.
This does suit a laptop or game computer more than a cellphone because they will have more graphical grunt and can be attached to 1 or more BIG screens.
Why not do it? you have skills!! provide Upgrade discounts for people who have previous version (this supports your loyal base) GREAT DEAL
This is an incredible explanation! Thank you! Please develop this further! World Cup XC on-line fly in! Super Cool!
The winners could win Ethereum smart contract.
This is the development so far :) th-cam.com/video/hRmYQm9Qp-A/w-d-xo.html
And this is what we have working at the moment
rcastro.itch.io/paragame
Thanks for the support! :)
I like your videos so much, I must visit you some time. Im a glider pilot since I am 17 (51 years now) and since 2 years I am paragliding too. Just made my first xc-flights in the Alps and they worked well (30 and 50 km). Your explanation is ok. But there are some things which should be kept in mind.
First the vario is reacting with some delay, so if you only listen to your vario (don´t look at it, you have to watch the airspace!), your reactions are too late. So you have to develop a spacial imaginaton of he thermal and where in the thermal you are, so that you can anticipate what is coming. What I do is, I imagin the thermal as a mountain. The center oft he thermal is the peak of the mountain an I try to circle around that peak. And don´t relay to much on the vario, you feel the thermals much faster (upwords acceleration, kite reaction and so on).
Second thermals mostly are changing all the time, they are wobbeling upwords and the position if the „center“ is changing. That applies especially to cold air masses. Warm air masses produce softer, bigger thermals. So if you hit the peak oft he mountain (center oft he thermal) in one circle it will not nessessary be there in the next circle. That means you have to adapt your mountain model permanently. And sometimes there really are two ore even three peaks.
Awesome rule! It should be possible to hook a variometer and GPS together and calculate the center and size of a thermal to visualize it on screen. I would try that someday.
i love your explanation so much!!!! thank you!!!
I don't have a vario i wonder if you or your programmer friend could figure out a way to use the smart phone as vario meter..
Just came across this, interesting! I wonder if there has been any progress on the project, maybe I'm about to find out when I watch some of your newer videos.. 👍🏻
Sounds like a lot of fun, do it brother
Introduce wind so that the thermal moves.
Also make it into an mobile phone app with multiplayer capability that has high scores, daily, weekly, all time high and so on.
The multiplayer aspect would probably be really beneficial for people to learn the rules when flying.
Love ideas my inputs make a site w embedded game w leader boards and chat plus add extra features like choose wing trims then race slalom style live heads up... also teach about safety wing design stall certifications and serious nature of aviation.
Hi thank you for this explanation I definitely will try it in my next fly. I think it will be interesting as a learning tool and very cool as a game for cross country
Great concept Andre; as mentioned previously if you incorporate real wing aerodynamics and true 3D topography (easily obtainable) and then allow for variable meteorological conditions (esp windspeed/direction, lapse rate & sun strength/thermal generation rate) it would make a really interesting pre-flight XC planning aid..love to know how this develops - please keep us posted!
Btw - I may know a few flying buddies who are also programmers & would be interested in getting involved, so message me if that's of interest
Thanks for the encouragement Rick. There are quite a few more developments out and a playable version on episode 4 :) th-cam.com/play/PLHqVk-6I8KNca4u4-6L7EPCPTA7i29xIv.html
Fantastic, I’m sure that a couple of years ago their was a PG simulator free online. I think it had something to do with the US navy. It used google maps so you could fly at your favourite sites all around the world. It was a great tool/game.
Keep up the good work
I like the idea of the Google Earth, or other locales around the world. Kind of like existing car racing games where you pick the track and difficulty level. Being able to control not just left/right and seeing competitors would also be nice to see where the others are getting lift (maybe a hawk here and there?) Great concept.
What a super idea for training and keeping skills and thought processes sharp when not flying. I like the multiplayer xc game idea.. and I wonder if you could program in various weather/ wind patterns or even terrain features or rotor at all and simulate different basic collapse scenarios and have to react with proper brake inputs.. -or something like that.. I know graphics and maybe even haptic feedback might get complicated then but you're still reinforcing the right thought processes for recovery.
Nice job. Love the ingenuity here on the channel and the ideas.
Thanks a lot for the support! yeah I really like the multiplayer XC idea too, but then again, a mobile game would be great too... so hard to decide.
It looks really, really cool!
To be honest, the first few seconds at the start of the video, I thought that there's plenty of PG games like that, but after your theory bit, and the demonstration of the game, I realized this is actually a simulator, *and* it looks especially useful (and cool too) Keep on it!
Cheers dude!
I want to add too, that even without the awesome thermal bits, the game looks much better than the run of the mill of mobile games. The ribbon path and the way the PG looks turning is so good. He really did a great job.
great idea - online game could be merged with logged data from flight - or logged data could be analysed after flight and then improved be gaming - sync with gopro!
The first time I’ve heard a Thermal described correctly as a “Column of rising air”. You may want to add that outside the thermal there is a sheet of cooler air moving downwards, caused by the displacement by air expanding upwards.
Hang up a harness with a couple of control lines to A to D convertors for inputs to the computer, computer output to vario audio and possible LCD. But just think if you could end up with a full on VR set-up. Wow what a learning tool.
Ahah, Steve a couple of days I say to Ricardo, now that I know a bit more about arduino i can make a little controller that you pull a couple of strings attached to potentiometers and you have a "paraglider game controller" to play on the computer, but what you're talking about it's some really next level stuff!!! Not impossible, but for sure next level! :D
Actually we have working something like this right now. Real physics are the most difficult part right now and we would need some help about aerodynamics and paraglider physics calculations (forces etc.). You are wellcome to join/follow our project if you like. Or if you know a person who knows paragliding physics and some mathematics behind it, let us know. We have write some formulas now, but our goal is to make as real physics as possible for full simulation experience. Early version of this simulator is available later in this year.
Sounds cool Jussi, would love to see your prototype. Me and Ricardo are working on the physics and aerodynamics as we speak so I hope to have the next video out soon so you can see better how it's working at the moment.
Cool! This is great for understanding coring a thermal. App please! :)
brilliant presentation and explanation. thank you very much.
A vario that uses a camera, gps and augmented reality to show the current forward view with a cgi thermal projected in real time.
This would make hunting thermals as easy as driving with a satnav.
Haha talk about taking it a few steps further.. Some would say it would take the thrill out of it, but personally I would be very impressed to see any system like this developed and carried out practically 😉 🤩
Brilliant explanation man.
This is extremely useful, and very well explained! Thank you!
can modify and use this on an RC glider in the real world and then "auto lift" could be a thing for electric gliders
Great theory input and great project. Would be great in 3D but following what’s happening is probably better in 2d.
Check out the part 2 and part 4 videos :)
To get proficient, It'd be great to just use input based on (vario) sound, scored on altitude at the end. Eventually visual w/ terrain and clouds can be used to select better/best lift
yeah, that was our original idea, we might go back to that soon
This is great! Thakns a lot I will use it in my next flight!
Great instructional video, and so simply explained.
Instead of listening to beeps on the vario(which are annoying) or constantly looking at the numbers, could the vario be programmed to say "Turn" or "Fly Straight" as appropriate?
Yeah, or even better, there are some varios that have an arrow that points to the center of the thermal
You have been doing some amazing work....Keep it up !
I will try this method during my next glider flight.
I will tell you
Thank you very much for the tip
Awesome, look forward to getting you thoughts on it Bernard
I would help support an instructional type app. I’d even pay for the app! If this is exactly how one manages thermals, then this would be worth it’s weight in gold!
Very good explanation 👍
I’d really like a VR experience. Exercising techniques and theories from the first person perspective would be brilliant