diff --git a/src/modules/simulator/simulator.h b/src/modules/simulator/simulator.h
index 6111af7c88..8acb377db8 100644
--- a/src/modules/simulator/simulator.h
+++ b/src/modules/simulator/simulator.h
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ private:
 #ifndef __PX4_QURT
 		,
 		_rc_channels_pub(nullptr),
-		_actuator_outputs_sub(-1),
+		_actuator_outputs_sub{},
 		_vehicle_attitude_sub(-1),
 		_manual_sub(-1),
 		_vehicle_status_sub(-1),
@@ -253,7 +253,11 @@ private:
 		_manual{},
 		_vehicle_status{}
 #endif
-	{}
+	{
+		for (unsigned i = 0; i < (sizeof(_actuator_outputs_sub) / sizeof(_actuator_outputs_sub[0])); i++) {
+			_actuator_outputs_sub[i] = -1;
+		}
+	}
 	~Simulator() { _instance = NULL; }
 
 	void initializeSensorData();
@@ -299,14 +303,14 @@ private:
 	orb_advert_t _rc_channels_pub;
 
 	// uORB subscription handlers
-	int _actuator_outputs_sub;
+	int _actuator_outputs_sub[ORB_MULTI_MAX_INSTANCES];
 	int _vehicle_attitude_sub;
 	int _manual_sub;
 	int _vehicle_status_sub;
 
 	// uORB data containers
 	struct rc_input_values _rc_input;
-	struct actuator_outputs_s _actuators;
+	struct actuator_outputs_s _actuators[ORB_MULTI_MAX_INSTANCES];
 	struct vehicle_attitude_s _attitude;
 	struct manual_control_setpoint_s _manual;
 	struct vehicle_status_s _vehicle_status;
@@ -316,7 +320,7 @@ private:
 	void send_controls();
 	void pollForMAVLinkMessages(bool publish, int udp_port);
 
-	void pack_actuator_message(mavlink_hil_controls_t &actuator_msg);
+	void pack_actuator_message(mavlink_hil_controls_t &actuator_msg, unsigned index);
 	void send_mavlink_message(const uint8_t msgid, const void *msg, uint8_t component_ID);
 	void update_sensors(mavlink_hil_sensor_t *imu);
 	void update_gps(mavlink_hil_gps_t *gps_sim);
diff --git a/src/modules/simulator/simulator_mavlink.cpp b/src/modules/simulator/simulator_mavlink.cpp
index 2c3fe4f155..2bd62d8a62 100644
--- a/src/modules/simulator/simulator_mavlink.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/simulator/simulator_mavlink.cpp
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ const unsigned mode_flag_custom = 1;
 
 using namespace simulator;
 
-void Simulator::pack_actuator_message(mavlink_hil_controls_t &actuator_msg)
+void Simulator::pack_actuator_message(mavlink_hil_controls_t &actuator_msg, unsigned index)
 {
 	// reset state
 	memset(&actuator_msg, 0, sizeof(actuator_msg));
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ void Simulator::pack_actuator_message(mavlink_hil_controls_t &actuator_msg)
 
 	for (unsigned i = 0; i < (sizeof(out) / sizeof(out[0])); i++) {
 		// scale PWM out 900..2100 us to -1..1 */
-		out[i] = (_actuators.output[i] - pwm_center) / ((PWM_DEFAULT_MAX - PWM_DEFAULT_MIN) / 2);
+		out[i] = (_actuators[index].output[i] - pwm_center) / ((PWM_DEFAULT_MAX - PWM_DEFAULT_MIN) / 2);
 
 		if (!PX4_ISFINITE(out[i])) {
 			out[i] = -1.0f;
@@ -107,14 +107,21 @@ void Simulator::pack_actuator_message(mavlink_hil_controls_t &actuator_msg)
 	actuator_msg.aux4 = out[7];
 	actuator_msg.mode = mode_flag_custom;
 	actuator_msg.mode |= (armed) ? mode_flag_armed : 0;
-	actuator_msg.nav_mode = 0;
+	actuator_msg.nav_mode = index; // XXX this indicates the output group in our use of the message
 }
 
 void Simulator::send_controls()
 {
-	mavlink_hil_controls_t msg;
-	pack_actuator_message(msg);
-	send_mavlink_message(MAVLINK_MSG_ID_HIL_CONTROLS, &msg, 200);
+	for (unsigned i = 0; i < (sizeof(_actuator_outputs_sub) / sizeof(_actuator_outputs_sub[0])); i++) {
+
+		if (_actuator_outputs_sub[i] < 0 || _actuators[i].timestamp == 0) {
+			continue;
+		}
+
+		mavlink_hil_controls_t msg;
+		pack_actuator_message(msg, i);
+		send_mavlink_message(MAVLINK_MSG_ID_HIL_CONTROLS, &msg, 200);
+	}
 }
 
 static void fill_rc_input_msg(struct rc_input_values *rc, mavlink_rc_channels_t *rc_channels)
@@ -341,10 +348,14 @@ void Simulator::poll_topics()
 {
 	// copy new actuator data if available
 	bool updated;
-	orb_check(_actuator_outputs_sub, &updated);
 
-	if (updated) {
-		orb_copy(ORB_ID(actuator_outputs), _actuator_outputs_sub, &_actuators);
+	for (unsigned i = 0; i < (sizeof(_actuator_outputs_sub) / sizeof(_actuator_outputs_sub[0])); i++) {
+
+		orb_check(_actuator_outputs_sub[i], &updated);
+
+		if (updated) {
+			orb_copy(ORB_ID(actuator_outputs), _actuator_outputs_sub[i], &_actuators[i]);
+		}
 	}
 
 	orb_check(_vehicle_status_sub, &updated);
@@ -363,7 +374,7 @@ void *Simulator::sending_trampoline(void *)
 void Simulator::send()
 {
 	px4_pollfd_struct_t fds[1] = {};
-	fds[0].fd = _actuator_outputs_sub;
+	fds[0].fd = _actuator_outputs_sub[0];
 	fds[0].events = POLLIN;
 
 
@@ -554,7 +565,9 @@ void Simulator::pollForMAVLinkMessages(bool publish, int udp_port)
 	(void)hrt_reset();
 
 	// subscribe to topics
-	_actuator_outputs_sub = orb_subscribe_multi(ORB_ID(actuator_outputs), 0);
+	for (unsigned i = 0; i < (sizeof(_actuator_outputs_sub) / sizeof(_actuator_outputs_sub[0])); i++) {
+		_actuator_outputs_sub[i] = orb_subscribe_multi(ORB_ID(actuator_outputs), i);
+	}
 	_vehicle_status_sub = orb_subscribe(ORB_ID(vehicle_status));
 
 	// got data from simulator, now activate the sending thread