docs/simulator_quickstart.md

# OpenFlySplat UE — Expo East demo

This scene-inclusive Linux package contains the Expo East Gaussian scene, the
OpenFlySplat UE runtime, and a converter for replacing it with another 3DGS PLY.
The historical source directory calls this scene `expo_north`; the display name
is **Expo East**. Conversion keeps the full input and SH3; no point-count crop is
applied. The source PLY is not required to open the converted scene.

## Open the scene

On a Linux x86-64 desktop with Vulkan SM6 and a compatible GPU driver:

```bash
cd Linux/OpenFlySplatUE
./run_expo_east.sh
```

The scene opens at its shared start position with the **HIL monitor visible**.
The HIL and renderer panels use English labels; no language selector is needed.
Until the phone connects, the monitor displays a waiting state. Starting UE
does not start the aircraft-side DJI Simulator or issue takeoff commands.
No UE editor, Python, phone or DJI controller is required just to open the scene.

To show the renderer controls, launch with
`./run_expo_east.sh --ui All`.

For the separate software-only SimpleFlight preview, use
`./run_expo_east.sh --preview`. Close it before starting HIL.

## Connect Android / DJI HIL

The default launcher already starts HIL mode; connect the phone to that window.
The equivalent explicit command is:

```bash
./run_openfly_hil.sh --settings NanoGSConverter/Config/OpenFlyHil.json
```

Follow [English HIL setup](hil_quickstart.md) or
[中文 HIL 操作步骤](hil_quickstart_zh.md). These cover the matching Android
app, USB connection to the remote, hotspot/LAN discovery, DJI Simulator state,
virtual-camera selection, ports and troubleshooting. HIL is a bench workflow;
remove propellers and confirm simulation is active before issuing controls.

## Replace the scene

With Python 3 and NumPy installed:

```bash
./convert_nanogs_ply.sh /path/to/model.ply --crop-mode none --spawn-height 0.5
```

Restart the application after conversion. This replaces the active scene in
this extracted copy; keep a second copy if you want to preserve Expo East.
The renderer's ground floor is not a collision mesh of the GS buildings.

## Distribution layout

Keep the entire `Linux` directory together, including its sibling `Engine`
runtime. The scene is stored in `OpenFlySplatUE/Content/NanoGSData/RuntimeActive`.
Intermediate conversion caches and local logs are not required for playback.
`release_manifest.json` records the runtime origin, source model identity and
scene/start settings. The source repository and the scene-inclusive package
are separate distributions; included third-party components retain their
individual licenses.