QGroundControl

QGroundControl

QGroundControl is an open-source, full-featured ground control station for drones and other unmanned vehicles that use the MAVLink protocol. It provides full setup and configuration of vehicles running the PX4 or ArduPilot autopilots, with an easy-to-use graphical interface for beginners and advanced features for experienced users. QGroundControl is developed as open source under the Dronecode umbrella (dual-licensed under Apache 2.0 and GPLv3), allowing users to customize, extend, and integrate the software.

QGroundControl provides an easy to use graphical interface for managing and flying drones.

Features

QGroundControl offers a wide range of features to help users control and monitor their unmanned vehicle systems.

Flight Planner: QGroundControl's Plan view provides users with an easy-to-use graphical interface for planning autonomous missions on a map. Survey, corridor scan and structure scan patterns can be generated automatically, and mission altitudes can be set relative to the terrain.

Real-Time Telemetry: QGroundControl provides real-time telemetry data for the user's system, allowing for in-depth monitoring. Detailed information about the system's current state, such as position, attitude, speed, altitude and battery status, is available at a glance.

Geofencing: QGroundControl allows users to create virtual boundaries for their unmanned vehicle systems, preventing them from entering dangerous or restricted areas. Rally points can be defined as alternative landing locations.

Camera Control: QGroundControl provides controls for MAVLink-compatible cameras and gimbals, so users can take photos, start video recording and adjust camera settings from the ground station.

Waypoint Management: QGroundControl makes it easy to create, modify, and delete waypoints. Waypoints can be used to define a flight path, or to trigger certain actions when the UAV reaches a certain point.

Video Streaming: QGroundControl can display live video from the vehicle with instrument overlays, so the pilot sees the camera view and the flight data on one screen.

Data Logging: QGroundControl can download flight logs from the vehicle and save telemetry logs, allowing users to analyze the system's performance over time.

Geotagging: Images captured during survey missions can be geotagged using the flight log, which is useful for mapping and photogrammetry.

Vehicle Setup: QGroundControl provides an intuitive interface for setting up the user's UAV. This includes configuring system parameters, calibrating sensors, setting up the radio and flight modes, and updating the flight controller firmware.

Autopilot Control: QGroundControl provides access to all parameters of the autopilot. From the Fly view users can arm the vehicle, change the flight mode, take off, land or return to launch, and adjust mission settings such as altitude.

Ground Control Station: QGroundControl provides a ground control station for users to monitor and control their unmanned vehicle systems. This includes joystick and gamepad support for manual control, a map view for monitoring the system's position, and management of multiple vehicles at once.

Analysis Tools: The MAVLink Inspector and MAVLink Console let advanced users examine raw telemetry messages and send commands directly to the flight controller.

Support: QGroundControl provides users with detailed online documentation, including a user guide and a developer guide, and community discussion forums. This makes it easy for users to get the help they need when using the software.