Build a Custom Track in FPVSIM
Create a custom FPV race course from the ground up using FPVSIM's track-building tools.
Create and add a Google Maps API key to unlock real-world locations in FPVSIM World Flight.
What this tutorial covers
This tutorial connects a personal Google Maps Platform project to FPVSIM's world-flight scene. You create a dedicated cloud project, enable the Maps Tiles API, make a restricted credential, save that credential in FPVSIM, and then load a real-world location for virtual FPV flight.
Never copy the key shown in an old video, screenshot, comment, or public repository. Create your own restricted credential. The demonstration key was temporary, and any key exposed publicly should be revoked and replaced.
Before you begin
- A Google account with access to Google Cloud Console.
- Permission to create a project, configure Maps Platform, and complete any current billing or account-verification requirements.
- FPVSIM access and a stable internet connection for streaming map tiles.
- Time to review current Google pricing, quotas, and terms; the console and policies may have changed since this 2023 recording.
Create the credential securely
Create a dedicated cloud project
Sign in to Google Cloud Console and create a project specifically for FPVSIM map tiles. A dedicated project makes usage, restrictions, and revocation easier to manage.
Complete the current account setup
Follow Google's current prompts for account and billing setup. Do not rely on the video's historical description of free usage or quotas; verify the terms shown in your console.
Enable Maps Tiles API
Open the API library, search for Maps Tiles API, select it, and enable it for the new project.
Create an API key
Open Credentials and create a new API key. Treat the value as a secret even though a browser-based integration may transmit it from the client.
Restrict the key
Limit the key to Maps Tiles API and apply the narrowest application restriction that works for your FPVSIM use case. Permit only the required origins or applications, and do not reuse the key for unrelated projects.
Add cost controls
Review quotas and configure budget or usage alerts where available. Recheck these controls whenever Google changes Maps Platform pricing or limits.
Load a world location in FPVSIM
Open the world-flight scene
Start FPVSIM, choose Quick Play, and open the Google Earth or Google Maps-based scene shown at the end of the scene list.
Enter your own key
Paste the newly created credential into the API key field and save it. Do not paste a key copied from this or any other public tutorial.
Wait for tiles to load
The scene begins requesting map tiles after the credential is saved. If the camera starts below the surface, reload or re-enter the scene as demonstrated.
Choose a location and fly
Navigate to the location you want to explore and begin flight. Tile detail may appear progressively, especially on a slower connection.
Security and troubleshooting tips
- If a key is ever exposed, revoke it in Google Cloud Console and create a replacement instead of trying to hide the old value later.
- A blank or partially loaded world can mean the API is disabled, restrictions do not match the request, quota is exhausted, billing is inactive, or the network is slow.
- Review project usage after a session so unexpected requests are visible early.
- Keep screenshots and support messages free of the full credential value.
Edited transcript
This transcript removes all credential values and updates security wording while preserving the tutorial's demonstrated flow. Google Cloud labels, billing requirements, and quotas may have changed since the recording.
00:04–00:33
This video shows how to obtain a Google Maps API key and use it to fly in real-world locations inside FPVSIM. At the time of recording, the map-tile feature was experimental and required users to bring their own credential.
00:34–01:14
Sign in to Google Cloud Console, complete the initial account setup, and create a first project. Project creation can take a moment. Continue through the account prompts required by Google.
01:14–02:28
After setup, the console provides access to credentials. Create and copy your own API key, then secure it with appropriate restrictions. The video briefly displayed a demonstration key, but that key was intended to be disabled and must not be reused.
02:47–03:11
Search the API library for Maps Tiles API and enable it for the project. If you did not copy the key earlier, it can be managed from the Credentials page.
03:11–04:18
The recording reviews the quota available at that time and describes the feature as experimental. Pricing and limits are external policies, so check the current Google Cloud Console rather than depending on the historical numbers in the video.
04:18–05:13
Open FPVSIM, choose Quick Play, and select the Google Earth scene. Paste your own key into the API key field and save it. The map tiles begin loading. If the initial view is below the ground, enter the scene again.
05:13–08:55
The demonstration flies over Waikiki and toward Diamond Head in Hawaii. Tile loading speed depends on the internet connection, but the scene allows long-range virtual exploration of the selected area.
08:56–09:26
Use a credential from your own project, monitor its usage, and do not use any key exposed in the video. The tutorial closes by inviting questions about the setup.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the API key visible in the original video?
No. It was a temporary demonstration credential and was scheduled for deactivation. Create and restrict a key in your own Google Cloud project.
Is Maps Tiles API guaranteed to be free?
No guarantee should be inferred from the 2023 recording. Review the current Google Maps Platform pricing, quotas, billing requirements, and terms in your own console before enabling it.
How should I restrict the credential?
Restrict it to Maps Tiles API and use the narrowest compatible application restriction, such as only the origins or applications required for your FPVSIM workflow. Keep the project dedicated to this use.
Why are the world tiles blank or slow?
Confirm that Maps Tiles API is enabled, the key restrictions match the request, billing and quota are active, and your connection can stream the tiles. Slower connections may fill in detail gradually.
What should I do if I accidentally publish my key?
Revoke the exposed key immediately in Google Cloud Console, create a replacement, apply restrictions, and review usage for unexpected requests.
