This glossary explains common DroneWorld terms for new contributors. Related paths point to useful starting places in the current repo.
| Term | Plain-language definition | Why it matters in DroneWorld | Related paths |
|---|---|---|---|
| DRV | DroneReqValidator, the broader drone simulation and validation ecosystem described in the README. | DroneWorld is presented as a key component of DRV, so many simulator and report terms come from that ecosystem. | readme.md, sim/Dockerfile, docker-compose.yaml |
| DroneWorld | The open source app in this repo for configuring drone simulations, dispatching backend tasks, and viewing reports. | It connects the React wizard, Flask API, simulator integration, and report storage into one contributor workflow. | readme.md, frontend/, backend/, sim/ |
| AirSim | The simulator API/client interface used by backend missions and monitors. | The backend writes AirSim-compatible settings.json files and connects through AirSim RPC before running real tasks. |
backend/PythonClient/airsim/, backend/PythonClient/multirotor/client_factory.py, backend/PythonClient/multirotor/control/simulation_task_manager.py |
| Cosys-AirSim | The AirSim-compatible simulator variant referenced by backend settings-generation comments. | The backend forces SettingsVersion = 2.0 for the expected Cosys-AirSim settings schema. |
backend/PythonClient/multirotor/control/simulation_task_manager.py |
| DRV-Unreal | The Unreal-based simulator container built from release assets. | Full real-simulator runs depend on this service; mock mode avoids it for frontend/backend development. | sim/Dockerfile, docker-compose.yaml, readme.md |
| Cesium | 3D geospatial globe and terrain library used in the frontend. | The wizard uses Cesium to display the scenario map, terrain, drones, and drawn zones. | frontend/src/components/cesium/CesiumMap.jsx, frontend/package.json |
| Resium | React bindings for Cesium. | Resium lets the React app render Cesium Viewer, Entity, and camera components declaratively. |
frontend/src/components/cesium/CesiumMap.jsx, frontend/src/components/cesium/DroneDragAndDrop.jsx, frontend/package.json |
| OPFS | Origin Private File System, a browser-private storage API exposed through navigator.storage.getDirectory(). |
Saved settings use OPFS so contributors can keep settings.json and task.json bundles in the browser without uploading them to the backend. |
frontend/src/services/savedSettingsStorage.js |
| FuzzyTest | A task payload section that asks the backend to run a parameter sweep, currently used by the task manager for wind or speed variation. | It changes backend execution from one regular batch to multiple fuzzy report sub-runs. Saved replay rejects _prebuilt_settings combined with FuzzyTest. |
backend/PythonClient/server/simulation_server.py, backend/PythonClient/multirotor/control/simulation_task_manager.py, frontend/src/utils/taskPayload.js |
| SADE | Project term for safety/no-fly zones drawn as rectangular regions on the Cesium map; the inspected repo does not define the acronym expansion. | SADE zones are part of environment configuration and can be included in the task payload as environment.Sades. |
frontend/src/components/cesium/DrawSadeZone.jsx, frontend/src/model/EnvironmentModel.js, frontend/src/utils/taskPayload.js |
| monitor | Backend runtime check that observes a mission and emits report content, such as collision, waypoint, drift, separation, or battery checks. | Monitors turn a simulation run into pass/fail evidence and report artifacts. | backend/PythonClient/multirotor/monitor/, backend/PythonClient/multirotor/control/simulation_task_manager.py, frontend/src/components/MonitorControl.jsx |
| mission | Backend runtime action that commands a drone through a task, such as flying to points or following a path. | Missions are dynamically loaded from task payload names and paired with drones before monitors run. | backend/PythonClient/multirotor/mission/, backend/PythonClient/multirotor/control/simulation_task_manager.py |
| mock simulator | Lightweight backend task manager used when SIMULATOR_TYPE=mock. |
It lets contributors test API calls, task submission, saved replay, and report listing without building or running DRV-Unreal. | backend/mock_simulator/mock_task_manager.py, backend/PythonClient/server/simulation_server.py |
settings.json |
AirSim/Cosys-AirSim simulator configuration generated by the backend or saved by the frontend. | Real simulator runs read it from the AirSim documents directory, and saved settings bundles store it for replay/download. | backend/PythonClient/multirotor/control/simulation_task_manager.py, frontend/src/services/savedSettingsStorage.js, config/airsim/settings.json |
task.json |
The frontend/backend task payload shape that contains Drones, environment, optional monitors, and optional FuzzyTest. |
Saved settings replay needs the original task payload to rebuild missions and monitors while reusing prebuilt settings. | frontend/src/utils/taskPayload.js, frontend/src/services/savedSettingsStorage.js, backend/PythonClient/server/simulation_server.py |
cesium.json |
Small simulator-side file containing geographic origin coordinates. | The backend writes it from the task origin so the simulator and Cesium-origin behavior stay aligned. | backend/PythonClient/multirotor/control/simulation_task_manager.py, config/airsim/cesium.json |
| AirSim RPC | The TCP RPC connection used by backend missions and monitors to control or query the simulator. | Real task execution waits for this connection before resetting the scene and running mission/monitor threads. | backend/PythonClient/multirotor/client_factory.py, backend/PythonClient/multirotor/control/simulation_task_manager.py |
| Pixel Streaming | Unreal Engine streaming path exposed as a WebSocket-like frontend URL in compose. | It is the intended path for simulator visual streaming, separate from the REST API and AirSim RPC control path. | docker-compose.yaml, docker-compose.dev.yaml, readme.md |
| Nominatim | OpenStreetMap reverse-geocoding service used by frontend saved-settings metadata. | Saved configuration names and descriptions can include human-readable location context derived from coordinates. | frontend/src/services/locationNameResolver.js, frontend/src/services/savedSettingsStorage.js |
| GCS | Google Cloud Storage. | One backend storage option can upload report artifacts to a GCS bucket, or to fake GCS for local emulator testing. | backend/PythonClient/multirotor/storage/storage_config.py, backend/PythonClient/multirotor/storage/gcs_storage_service.py, docker-compose.yaml |
| Google Drive storage | Backend storage option that uploads report artifacts into a configured Google Drive folder. | It provides another report persistence target beyond local files and GCS. | backend/PythonClient/multirotor/storage/storage_config.py, backend/PythonClient/multirotor/storage/gd_storage_service.py |
| Swagger/OpenAPI | API documentation/spec format served by the Flask backend. | Contributors can inspect routes at /api/docs and export JSON from /apispec.json. |
backend/PythonClient/server/simulation_server.py, docs/api/swagger.md |
| Flasgger | Python package used to generate Swagger UI/OpenAPI docs from Flask route metadata. | It is the implementation behind DroneWorld's backend API documentation page. | backend/PythonClient/server/simulation_server.py, backend/requirements.txt |
| MUI | Material UI, the React component library used for much of the frontend interface. | Wizard controls, dialogs, tables, tabs, alerts, and layout components come from MUI. | frontend/package.json, frontend/src/components/ |
| CRACO | Create React App Configuration Override. | DroneWorld uses CRACO with craco-cesium so the CRA-based frontend can build Cesium correctly without ejecting. |
frontend/craco.config.js, frontend/package.json |
When a term appears in a bug report or PR, trace it through the files listed above before changing behavior. Most DroneWorld issues cross at least two boundaries: frontend payload shape, backend settings generation, simulator runtime behavior, and report storage.