mavlink/qgroundcontrol

Cross-platform ground control station for drones (Android, iOS, Mac OS, Linux, Windows)

What it solves

QGroundControl is a Ground Control Station (GCS) that provides a unified interface for managing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). It solves the problem of needing separate, complex software for flight control, mission planning, and vehicle configuration for different drone platforms.

How it works

The software acts as a central hub for MAVLink-enabled drones (such as those using PX4 and ArduPilot). It communicates with the vehicle via the MAVLink protocol to provide real-time telemetry, flight display, and command execution.

Who it’s for

It is designed for drone operators, developers, and researchers who need a professional-grade tool for configuring, monitoring, and controlling drones across multiple platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS).

Highlights

  • Mission Planning: Create and execute autonomous waypoint, survey, and structure-scan missions.
  • Live Fly View: Real-time flight display featuring maps, instruments, and vehicle telemetry.
  • Vehicle Setup: Guided wizards for sensor calibration, radio, and power configuration.
  • Multi-vehicle Support: Ability to connect to and monitor multiple drones simultaneously.
  • Video Streaming: Integrated GStreamer-based video streaming with recording capabilities.
  • MAVLink Tooling: Built-in console, log analysis, and MAVLink Inspector for deep vehicle tuning.

Related

  • Project
    ArduPilot/MissionPlanner

    A comprehensive ground control station for ArduPilot-based autonomous vehicles, used for configuration, mission planning, and real-time telemetry monitoring.

  • Project
    mavlink/MAVSDK

    A set of libraries providing a high-level API to MAVLink, simplifying the control and monitoring of unmanned vehicles across multiple platforms and languages.

  • Project
    mavlink/mavros

    A MAVLink-to-ROS 2 bridge that allows developers to program drones using ROS 2 topics and services instead of the MAVLink protocol.

  • Project
    PX4/PX4-Autopilot

    An open-source autopilot stack for drones and unmanned vehicles that provides a modular flight control system supporting various airframes and hardware.

  • Project
    paparazzi/paparazzi

    An open-source software package for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) systems that provides onboard software, ground control, and simulation for various types of unmanned craft.