Introducing Gaggle's New Obstacle Course Feature

Flying just got a whole lot more exciting! We’re thrilled to introduce Gaggle’s latest feature—the Obstacle Course. Designed to inject fun and competition into every flight, this new addition allows pilots to create dynamic courses, challenge friends, and enhance their skills. Whether you’re a seasoned pilot or a newcomer looking for adventure, the Obstacle Course offers something for everyone.

To see everything else we released in this update, check out the release notes.

The short of it is:

1. Collect waypoints to increase your score.
2. Fly as close to the center on navigation tasks to maximize your points.
3. Avoid no-fly zones to prevent penalties.

To create your own Obstacle Course:

Navigate to Community > Groups > Select a group > Leaderboards > Create Leaderboard > Choose Obstacle Course.

Table of Contents

1. The Inspiration Behind Obstacle Course
2. What is the Obstacle Course Feature?
3. Getting Started: Creating Your First Course
   • No-Fly Zones
   • Waypoints
   • Navigation Tasks
4. Understanding the Scoring System
5. Taking Flight: Navigating the Course
6. Organizing Meetups and Competitions
7. Analyzing Performance with Flight Replays
8. Engaging Spectators with Live Scoring
9. Community Feedback and Future Updates
10. Conclusion

The Inspiration Behind Obstacle Course

The idea for the Obstacle Course was born from a desire to make each flight a unique adventure. We noticed that flying the same routes could become mundane, and we wanted to create a feature that revitalizes the joy of flying. Inspired by the formats used in the FAI World Paramotor Endurance Championships, the Obstacle Course allows pilots to experience competition-style flying while having fun with their local clubs or at fly-ins. We even recreated the World Paramotor Endurance Championships obstacle course in Gaggle to score the pilots to see how precisely they actually flew the course. You can view the results here.

What is the Obstacle Course Feature?

The Obstacle Course is a customizable leaderboard system within Gaggle. It lets pilots create courses featuring:

• No-Fly Zones: Areas pilots must avoid.
• Waypoints: Targets for pilots to reach for points.
• Navigation Tasks: Complex routes that test precision and navigation skills.

This feature transforms ordinary flights into thrilling challenges, offering endless possibilities for course design and competition.

Getting Started: Creating Your First Course

Creating an Obstacle Course is both intuitive and flexible. Here’s how to get started:

No-Fly Zones

Avoid These Areas to Stay in the Game

No-Fly Zones are essential for creating challenging courses. They can represent restricted airspace, safety hazards, or simply areas you want pilots to avoid. Or you can use them to create a more complex course that requires strategic planning.

Pro Tip: Use no-fly zones to simulate real-world restrictions and enhance the challenge!

Waypoints

Hit the Targets, Score the Points

Waypoints are targets that pilots must reach to earn points. They add an element of strategy to the course, encouraging pilots to explore new areas and test their skills on their way to navigation tasks.

Pro Tip: Strategically place waypoints to encourage exploration of new areas!

** Safety Tip**: Avoid placing waypoints in areas where pilots flying a navigation course might be at risk. Make sure navigation course entryways, exits, and corridors don’t have any waypoints nearby.

Navigation Tasks

Master the Course, Earn the Glory

Navigation Tasks are the heart of the Obstacle Course. They challenge pilots to fly precise routes, navigate through gates, and test their skills in a variety of conditions. These tasks are perfect for pilots looking to improve their flying abilities and compete with others.

Pro Tip: Incorporate curves and make sure the obstacle course follows natural landmarks for a more engaging experience!

Safety Tip: Make sure navigation tasks are designed with safety in mind. Avoid creating tasks that require pilots to fly too close to obstacles or waypoints/no-fly zones. Pilots can only fly the course in one direction, so make sure the course is designed to be flown in a safe and logical manner without conflicting with other air traffic.

Understanding the Scoring System

The scoring system is designed to reward precision and penalize mistakes:

• No-Fly Zones:
  • Penalties are applied per flight when entered.
  • Default penalty reduces total flight points by 50%.
• Waypoints:
  • Points are earned once per waypoint per course.
• Navigation Tasks:
  • Points awarded based on proximity to the center line.
  • Exiting through designated gates maintains points.
  • Early exits or backtracking incur a 50% penalty on that leg’s points.

Remember: The goal is to fly both accurately and strategically to maximize your score!

Taking Flight: Navigating the Course

When you’re ready to fly:

Preparation: Before takeoff, study the course and plan your route for optimal scoring and to familiarize yourself with the layout and landmarks.

Organizing Meetups and Competitions

Bring your community together with the Obstacle Course feature:

• Creating Meetups:
  • Define the location and date within Gaggle.
  • Create your obstacle course.
  • Invite pilots to join your event.
  • Gaggle will automatically load the course for all participants when they start the recorder.
• Setting Up Competitions:
  • Design a course tailored to your group’s skill level.
  • Use the leaderboard to track scores in real-time.

Engagement: Encourage friendly competition and collaboration among pilots, keeping safety and fun at the forefront.

Analyzing Performance with Flight Replays

Improve your skills by reviewing your flights:

• Flight Replay Features:
  • Watch your flight replay (32x speed works well for most flights).
  • See where you earned or lost points.
  • Analyze your path relative to the course.
• Tips for Improvement:
  • Note areas where you deviated from the center line.
  • Plan strategies for better performance on future flights.
  • Study landmarks and course layout for better navigation.
  • Don’t try to hit waypoints already scored; focus on new ones for subsequent flights.

Growth: Use insights from replays to refine your techniques and climb the leaderboard.

Engaging Spectators with Live Scoring

Make your events exciting for everyone:

• Live Scoring:
  • Spectators can view the course and pilots’ scores in real-time.
  • Adds excitement and engagement to events.
  • The group live tracking view on Desktop mode will show all pilots and the course.
• Enhancing Fly-Ins:
  • Great for organizers to offer entertainment.
  • Encourages more community involvement.

Community: Turn your flights into a spectator sport!

Future Updates

• Based on your feedback, we’re working on:
  • Enhanced course editing tools.
  • More customization options.
  • Additional tasks like constant speed and varying altitude.
  • Integration with global competitions.
  • Leaderboard and scoring event exports.

Conclusion

Ready to take your flying to new heights? Dive into Gaggle’s Obstacle Course feature today and transform every flight into an unforgettable adventure. Challenge yourself, compete with friends, and most importantly, have fun!

If you are interested, you can view the World Paramotor Endurance Championships obstacle course and leaderboard here.

We can’t wait to see the incredible courses you’ll create and hear about your experiences. Fly safe and enjoy the journey!

Join the conversation and share your thoughts with the Gaggle community on our Discord server. You can find the invite link under Profile > Settings > About.

Happy flying!