This means you can use the same software for a DJI Matrice 350 RTK on Monday and a Freefly Astro on Tuesday without switching tools or relearning workflows. Route planning, terrain following, camera actions, and telemetry monitoring all work the same way regardless of the airframe underneath.
Below: how to connect your ArduPilot or PX4 drone to UgCS, what each connection method looks like in practice, and when UgCS adds value over free alternatives like Mission Planner or QGroundControl.
How to Connect ArduPilot and PX4 Drones to UgCS
Both connection methods below use the MAVLink protocol, the standard telemetry and command interface for ArduPilot and PX4 autopilots. Once connected, UgCS treats the drone like any other supported aircraft: you can upload routes, monitor telemetry, and send commands in real time.
Option 1: Connect Using a Herelink Controller
Herelink is an Android-based controller with an integrated video link, making it the closest experience to flying a DJI drone. The setup is straightforward.
Link to guide: https://manuals-ugcs.sphengineering.com/docs/how-to-connect-ugcs-to-herelink
This method works best for pilots who want a live video feed on the controller and direct stick input as a fallback during automated missions.
Option 2: Connect Using a Telemetry Radio Link
A telemetry radio (such as a SiK radio pair) connects the drone to the laptop running UgCS through a USB ground module. No controller-based video feed here; this is a data-only link.
This method suits operators who use a separate video link or fly without a live camera feed, for example on survey missions where the camera records autonomously.
What Happens After Connection
Once the drone appears in UgCS, the workflow is the same as with any supported aircraft. You upload the pre-planned route directly from UgCS to the drone's autopilot. During the flight, UgCS shows real-time telemetry (position, altitude, speed, battery) and lets you send commands: pause, resume, return to home, or land.
UgCS vs. Mission Planner vs. QGroundControl
For ArduPilot and PX4 drones, Mission Planner and QGroundControl are the default free options. Both are capable tools for basic operations. UgCS fills a different role: professional mission planning with survey-grade features, cross-platform support, and a desktop 3D planning environment.
Here's how they compare on the features that matter most for commercial work.
Mission Planner and QGroundControl are solid tools if you fly a single ArduPilot or PX4 platform and need basic waypoint missions. UgCS makes sense when you need terrain following with custom DEMs, LiDAR or photogrammetry scan patterns, vertical/facade planning, or a single planning tool that works across DJI and non-DJI fleets.
When Does Professional Flight Planning Software Pay Off?
Free flight planning tools like Mission Planner and QGroundControl handle the basics well. Fly a grid pattern at a set altitude over flat ground? Either one will do the job. UgCS earns its license cost in specific scenarios where free tools hit their limits.
Mapping and Photogrammetry Over Complex Terrain
Consistent ground sampling distance (GSD) requires consistent altitude above ground, not above sea level. Over uneven terrain, that means real terrain following using high-resolution elevation data. UgCS lets you import custom DEMs from your own survey data and plan flights that hold a precise AGL across slopes and elevation changes. Mission Planner and QGroundControl don't support custom DEM import.
LiDAR Survey Missions
LiDAR missions have specific requirements: custom scan patterns, IMU calibration flight legs, and precise speed control. UgCS has dedicated LiDAR planning tools built in. Trying to replicate this in Mission Planner means manual waypoint placement and guesswork.
Mixed Fleets
If your team flies DJI for some jobs and ArduPilot-based aircraft for others, UgCS is the only professional mission planner where both platforms live in one interface. Same route planning workflow, same terrain data, same project files. No switching between software.
Vertical and Facade Inspections
Building facades, dam walls, bridge pylons. These require vertical flight planning with precise altitude control and overlap settings. UgCS handles this in 3D. Mission Planner is primarily a 2D tool.
Offline and Remote Operations
UgCS lets you cache maps and elevation data for offline use (up to 100 sq km per area). This means you can plan and execute missions in locations with no internet connection. Useful for mining, forestry, and SAR operations in remote areas.
Try UgCS with Your ArduPilot or PX4 Drone
If you're already flying ArduPilot or PX4 hardware, you can test UgCS with your existing fleet. Connect your drone over MAVLink using a Herelink controller or telemetry radio, and you get access to the full UgCS planning toolset: terrain following with custom DEMs, LiDAR and photogrammetry scan patterns, 3D flight visualization, and offline operation.
UgCS Open (free) lets you try basic features. UgCS Pro and UgCS Expert unlock the full survey and LiDAR planning tools that make the platform worth the investment for professional work.
FAQs: Using ArduPilot and PX4 Drones with UgCS
Which ArduPilot and PX4 drone models work with UgCS?
UgCS supports any drone running ArduPilot or PX4 firmware that communicates over MAVLink. Popular models used with UgCS include:
- Freefly Astro and Alta series: widely used for aerial imaging, mapping, and cinematography.
- Inspired Flight IF8000 and IF1200: commercial and industrial platforms, including heavy-lift configurations.
- Watts Innovations Prism: multi-payload platform used across survey and industrial applications.
- Harris Aerial H6: heavy-lift drone for surveying and mapping.
- Aurelia Drones: industrial-grade platforms with high payload capacity.
- Cubepilot and Pixhawk-based custom builds: UgCS works with the wide range of custom airframes built on Pixhawk hardware running ArduPilot or PX4.
For the full supported drone list, see the UgCS product page. For a detailed comparison of non-DJI enterprise drones, see Exploring Alternatives to DJI Enterprise Drones.
What is the difference between PX4 and Pixhawk?
PX4 is the open-source autopilot software (firmware). Pixhawk is a family of hardware flight controllers designed to run PX4. Think of it like Android (the software) and Samsung Galaxy (the hardware). Pixhawk boards are the reference hardware for PX4, but PX4 firmware also runs on other compatible flight controllers.
ArduPilot can also run on Pixhawk hardware. The autopilot firmware (ArduPilot or PX4) determines the drone's behavior, while the Pixhawk board is just the physical chip.
Can I plan photogrammetry or LiDAR missions for ArduPilot/PX4 drones in UgCS?
Yes. UgCS includes dedicated tools for photogrammetry (area scans, corridor scans, and circular missions with configurable overlap, GSD, and camera trigger settings) and LiDAR (custom scan patterns, automated IMU calibration legs, and point cloud preview in UgCS Expert). These tools work identically whether you're flying a DJI or an ArduPilot/PX4 airframe. The route is planned in UgCS and uploaded to the drone over MAVLink.
Is it hard to switch from Mission Planner or QGroundControl to UgCS?
The core concept is the same: plan a route, upload it, fly. UgCS adds more planning tools on top, so there's a learning curve for features like terrain following with imported DEMs, LiDAR scan patterns, and 3D vertical planning. But the basic connect-plan-fly workflow will feel familiar.
UgCS does not replace Mission Planner for low-level ArduPilot parameter tuning or firmware updates. Think of Mission Planner as your vehicle configuration tool and UgCS as your mission planning tool. Many operators use both.
Does UgCS work offline with ArduPilot/PX4 drones?
Yes. UgCS runs locally on your workstation and supports offline map and elevation caching (up to 100 sq km per area). Once you've cached your operating area, you can plan and fly missions with no internet connection. This is particularly relevant for ArduPilot/PX4 users working in remote locations with telemetry radio connections.
ArduPilot or PX4: which should I choose?
Based on SPH Engineering's experience working with both platforms, ArduPilot has a larger community, broader platform support, and more extensive documentation. PX4 has a clean codebase and strong developer tooling. Both work well with UgCS. If you're choosing a platform for commercial work and don't have a strong reason to pick PX4, ArduPilot is generally the safer bet for community support and troubleshooting resources.
