QGroundControl

QGroundControl is an open-source ground control station (GCS) application for MAVLink-enabled unmanned vehicles. It provides flight planning, vehicle configuration, telemetry visualization, and in-flight monitoring, and is commonly used with PX4 and ArduPilot autopilots. The project is part of the DroneCode initiative and is developed by a community of volunteers and organizations.

QGroundControl runs on major desktop and mobile platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. The software uses the Qt framework and C++, with a user interface built around QML. It supports mission planning with a map-based planner, waypoint editing, climb/descend rate control, and geofence and rally points, as well as parameter and firmware management for autopilots. It also provides calibration wizards for sensors and radios, log viewing, and real-time telemetry streams and vehicle health indicators. SITL (software-in-the-loop) simulation is supported for testing missions without hardware.

QGroundControl communicates with flight stacks via MAVLink over serial, UDP, or TCP connections and can connect to companion computers and simulators. It is cross-platform and provides automated builds and translations; it is distributed under the Apache License 2.0. The software is widely adopted by hobbyists, researchers, and professionals as a standard tool for configuring and monitoring MAVLink-enabled drones.