docs(sim): add Try PX4 quick-start and pre-built packages reference (#26957)

Adds documentation for the SITL containers and .deb packages introduced in #26495. The containers are now live on Docker Hub: [`px4io/px4-sitl:latest`](https://hub.docker.com/r/px4io/px4-sitl) and [`px4io/px4-sitl-gazebo:latest`](https://hub.docker.com/r/px4io/px4-sitl-gazebo).

The main addition is a [Try PX4 Simulation](https://docs.px4.io/main/en/dev_setup/try_px4) page that leads with a single `docker run` command and gets someone flying in under a minute. It lives in Getting Started, right after Recommended Hardware/Setup, so it's one of the first things new users see.

The existing `.deb` package reference has been moved from `packaging/px4_sitl_deb.md` to `simulation/px4_sitl.md` and expanded to cover both containers and `.deb` packages on one page. Sections are ordered by how people use them: what's available, install, configure, connect QGC/MAVSDK, connect ROS 2.

Other changes:
- README now has a "Try PX4" section with the docker one-liner above "Build from Source"
- Landing page (`index.md`) reworked to lead with "Try PX4" before "For Developers"
- Toolchain page (`dev_env.md`) gets a tip redirecting simulation-only users to pre-built packages
- `getting_started.md` and `SUMMARY.md` updated with links to the new pages
- Simulation index tip updated to mention containers alongside `.deb` packages

The SIH container image is published as `px4io/px4-sitl` (renamed from `px4io/px4-sitl-sih`) so the default lightweight option carries the simplest name. The Gazebo image remains `px4io/px4-sitl-gazebo`.

Also upgrades all GitHub Actions in the SITL workflow to Node.js 24 compatible versions (`actions/checkout@v6`, `actions/cache@v5`, `actions/upload-artifact@v7`, `actions/download-artifact@v8`, `docker/setup-buildx-action@v4`, `docker/build-push-action@v7`) to fix the Node.js 20 deprecation warning ahead of the June 2026 deadline.

---------

Signed-off-by: Ramon Roche <mrpollo@gmail.com>
Co-authored-by: Hamish Willee <hamishwillee@gmail.com>
This commit is contained in:
Ramon Roche
2026-04-09 08:51:22 -07:00
committed by GitHub
co-authored by Hamish Willee
parent e34cb8ccb5
commit 9adda29da2
11 changed files with 363 additions and 13 deletions
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@@ -27,11 +27,15 @@ See [PX4-Autopilot#23602](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/issues/23602) for
| Simulator | Description |
| ------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [Gazebo](../sim_gazebo_gz/index.md) | Gazebo supersedes [Gazebo Classic](../sim_gazebo_classic/index.md), featuring more advanced rendering, physics and sensor models. It is the only version of Gazebo available from Ubuntu Linux 22.04<br><br>A powerful 3D simulation environment that is particularly suitable for testing object-avoidance and computer vision. It can also be used for [multi-vehicle simulation](../simulation/multi-vehicle-simulation.md) and is commonly used with [ROS](../simulation/ros_interface.md), a collection of tools for automating vehicle control. <br><br><strong>Supported Vehicles:</strong> Quad, VTOL (Standard, Tailsitter, Tiltroter), Plane, Rovers |
| [Gazebo Classic](../sim_gazebo_classic/index.md) | A powerful 3D simulation environment that is particularly suitable for testing object-avoidance and computer vision. It can also be used for [multi-vehicle simulation](../simulation/multi-vehicle-simulation.md) and is commonly used with [ROS](../simulation/ros_interface.md), a collection of tools for automating vehicle control.<br><br>**Supported Vehicles:** Quad ([Iris](../airframes/airframe_reference.md#copter_quadrotor_x_generic_quadcopter)), Hex (Typhoon H480), [Generic Standard VTOL (QuadPlane)](../airframes/airframe_reference.md#vtol_standard_vtol_generic_standard_vtol), Tailsitter, Plane, Rover, Submarine |
| [SIH](../sim_sih/index.md) | A lightweight, headless simulator that runs physics directly inside PX4 as a C++ module (no external dependencies). Headless by default for fastest iteration. Supports ROS 2 via uXRCE-DDS. Can also run on flight controller hardware (`SYS_HITL=2`).<br><br>**Supported Vehicles:** Quad, Hex, Plane, Tailsitter, Standard VTOL, Rover |
| [Gazebo Classic](../sim_gazebo_classic/index.md) | A powerful 3D simulation environment that is particularly suitable for testing object-avoidance and computer vision. It can also be used for [multi-vehicle simulation](../simulation/multi-vehicle-simulation.md) and is commonly used with [ROS](../simulation/ros_interface.md), a collection of tools for automating vehicle control.<br><br>**Supported Vehicles:** Quad ([Iris](../airframes/airframe_reference.md#copter_quadrotor_x_generic_quadcopter)), Hex (Typhoon H480), [Generic Standard VTOL (QuadPlane)](../airframes/airframe_reference.md#vtol_standard_vtol_generic_standard_vtol), Tailsitter, Plane, Rover, Submarine |
There are also a number of [Community Supported Simulators](../simulation/community_supported_simulators.md).
:::tip
To run PX4 SITL without setting up a build environment, [pre-built packages and containers](px4_sitl_prebuilt_packages.md) are available.
:::
### Simulator Comparison
| Feature | Gazebo | SIH |