Features

Everything you need to fly, plan, and understand your flights - in one place.

Fly

Real-time flight awareness

See exactly what your aircraft is doing with a primary flight display, live map tracking, and configurable telemetry tiles.

  • Attitude indicator, compass, speed and altitude tapes
  • Live GPS position on a scrollable map
  • Customisable telemetry grid
  • Quick-access flight mode switching
  • Emergency RTL, land, and kill switch
  • Smooth 60fps rendering
Plan

Visual mission planning

Build complex missions with an intuitive drag-and-drop editor. From simple waypoint routes to automated area surveys.

  • Drag-and-drop waypoints on the map
  • Polygon survey and corridor scan patterns
  • Geofence and rally point management
  • Import routes from KML and GPX files
  • Upload and download missions to your FC
  • Real-time mission progress tracking
Analyse

Flight data that works for you

Every flight is automatically saved into a queryable database. No manual log downloads, no conversion steps - just land and start analysing.

  • Automatic recording of every parameter
  • Browse and compare past flights
  • Chart any parameter with synchronised zoom
  • Query your data with SQL
  • Export to Parquet or CSV
  • Fleet-wide analytics across vehicles
Connect

Works with your hardware

Connects to ArduPilot, PX4, iNav, and Betaflight over USB, Wi-Fi, or telemetry radio. No special adapters needed.

  • USB serial, TCP, and UDP connections
  • Automatic protocol detection
  • Plug-and-play auto-connect
  • SiK and Holybro radio support
  • Multi-vehicle fleet operations
  • Persistent connection settings
Video

Live video with telemetry overlay

Stream video from your aircraft with flight data overlaid in real time. Record footage with synchronised telemetry.

  • RTSP video streaming
  • Telemetry HUD overlay
  • Record video with synced flight data
  • Full-screen monitoring mode
  • Hardware-accelerated decoding
Simulate

Practice without risk

Launch a full simulation with one click. Test missions, learn the interface, or practise emergency procedures before flying for real.

  • One-click simulator launch
  • Multiple vehicle types and locations
  • Wind and failure injection
  • Speed multiplier for fast testing
  • Full Helios functionality in sim

What Helios Does Differently

Existing ground control software does a great job of getting you in the air. Helios builds on that foundation with a focus on modern design, flight data, and broader hardware support.

Queryable Flight Database

Every flight is automatically recorded into a columnar database you can query with SQL. Most GCS software requires manual log downloads and external tools for analysis.

Unique to Helios

Cross-Flight Comparison

Compare telemetry across flights and vehicles side by side. Spot trends, regressions, and anomalies that single-flight viewers can't show you.

Unique to Helios

Modern, Responsive UI

Designed for high-DPI displays with dark mode, smooth 60fps instruments, and a clean layout. No menus five levels deep.

Automatic Recording

No need to remember to start logging. Connect and fly - Helios captures everything from the moment you arm to the moment you land.

Broadest FC Support

Works with ArduPilot, PX4, iNav, and Betaflight. Most GCS software only supports one or two protocols - Helios speaks MAVLink and MSP.

Fleet Analytics

Aggregate data across your entire fleet. Track maintenance intervals, compare performance across airframes, and export to Parquet for use in your own data pipeline.

Unique to Helios

Everything you'd expect, too

Helios covers all the essentials: waypoint and survey mission planning, geofencing, rally points, KML/GPX import, USB/UDP/TCP connections, parameter editing, sensor calibration, video streaming, and simulation. If you've used other GCS software before, you'll feel right at home.

Built on the Shoulders of Giants

The open-source drone community has built incredible software over the past decade. Projects like ArduPilot, PX4, and the ground stations that support them have made autonomous flight accessible to everyone. Helios wouldn't exist without that work.

We're not here to replace what came before - we're building on it. Helios focuses on the areas we think deserve a fresh approach: flight data, modern UI, and broad hardware support. If another tool works better for your workflow, use it. They're all open source, and that's the point.

Ready to try a better GCS?

Helios is free, open source, and ready to fly.

Download Free Getting Started Guide