Microsoft has unveiled a simulator for training autonomous drones, powered by Microsoft Azure to allow for millions of complex flight simulations per second. Project AirSim is the successor to Microsoft’s earlier AirSim, beginning its life as a research project based in Unreal, but requiring an extensive understanding of machine learning and coding. The newly-announced iteration promises an end-to-end experience that will allow users an easy but powerful tool to train AI models within a 3D environment. This environment is drawn from Microsoft’s own Bing Maps as well as other sources of geographic information and can represent specific locations such as New York City or London, as well as custom environments to suit a customer’s individual training needs.
