Drone mission planner with waypoints and terrain

Features

• Waypoints on a map

  Tap to add, drag to move, and edit each point's altitude, speed and type in a list.

• Terrain profile

  Ground elevation along the route from SRTM data, with the lowest clearance above ground flagged.

• Betaflight flight plans

  Waypoints for Betaflight builds with flight plan support, loaded and saved through the flight controller.

• INAV missions

  Multi-mission planning with .mission file import and export.

• ArduPilot and PX4 plans

  Waypoints, geofence and rally points, survey grids, and KML, GPX or GeoJSON import.

• Time and distance

  Route length and estimated flight time from each leg's speed and any holds.

One planner, several firmwares

Each autopilot stores missions its own way. Betaflight's flight plan uses feet and knots, as its configurator does. INAV stores numbered waypoints with a last-waypoint flag and supports several missions. ArduPilot and PX4 use MAVLink mission items with separate fence and rally lists. FlySpark handles each format natively, so what you plan is exactly what the flight controller receives.

The standalone planner is for Betaflight flight plans. INAV missions live in the Mission tab of the INAV configurator, and ArduPilot and PX4 plans in the Plan view of the MAVLink ground station.

Check the terrain, not just the map

Waypoint altitudes are often set relative to home. On a hill, a route that looks safe on a flat map can pass a few metres above the ground. The elevation profile shows the ground under every leg and the lowest clearance, so you can raise a waypoint before it matters.

Survey grids for mapping are available in the ArduPilot and PX4 planner: draw or import a polygon, set the line spacing and FlySpark lays out the passes.

Fly responsibly

Autonomous flight carries extra risk. Keep the aircraft in sight where the law requires it, set a failsafe, check the drone weather forecast and confirm the airspace with your official map before every mission.

How to plan a drone waypoint mission

1. Open the planner. Open the FlySpark flight planner, or the mission view of your configurator.
2. Add waypoints. Tap the map to place waypoints, then set altitude and speed for each.
3. Check the profile. Look at the terrain profile and raise any leg that comes too close to the ground.
4. Upload. Connect the flight controller and send the mission, then read it back to confirm.

Frequently asked questions

Can Betaflight fly waypoints?

Betaflight builds with flight plan support can store waypoints through the waypoint CLI command. FlySpark plans and transfers them.

Can I import a KML or GPX route?

Yes, in the ArduPilot and PX4 planner: KML, GPX and GeoJSON tracks become waypoints and polygons become survey areas.

Is this a Mission Planner replacement?

It covers waypoint, fence, rally and survey planning. Mission Planner has more specialised tools; both can be used with the same vehicle.

Where does the terrain data come from?

SRTM elevation data through Open-Elevation, the same service the Betaflight configurator uses.

Does it work without a flight controller?

Yes. Plan first, then connect and upload when you are ready.

Related tools

• INAV Configurator for the browser and your phone

  Configure INAV planes, wings and multirotors in your browser or on Android: mixer, navigation, waypoint missions, programming and OSD. Free demo inside.

• ArduPilot setup and ground station in your browser

  A Mission Planner alternative that runs in Chrome: ArduPilot setup, calibration, parameters, missions and logs over USB, telemetry radio or Bluetooth.

• PX4 setup and ground station in your browser

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• Drone flying weather: forecast and go / no-go

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• A MAVLink ground station that runs in your browser

  A web MAVLink ground station for ArduPilot and PX4: HUD, arming, modes, parameters, missions and logs over USB, telemetry radio or Bluetooth.

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