Software
ArduPilot Autopilot
Open-source firmware trusted by thousands of aircraft worldwide. ArduPlane's QuadPlane mode gives the Stork autonomous VTOL and fixed-wing flight.
Flight Modes
ArduPilot provides multiple flight modes, from full manual control to fully autonomous missions. Switch modes in-flight via the RC transmitter or ground station.
Full pilot control via RC transmitter. All stick inputs map directly to control surfaces and motors. Used for initial testing and manual override.
Fly By Wire A — pilot controls bank angle and pitch, ArduPilot maintains stability. The aircraft won't stall or exceed safe bank angles.
Return To Launch — the aircraft autonomously navigates back to its takeoff point, transitions to VTOL, and lands. Triggered manually or by failsafe.
Fully autonomous waypoint mission. The aircraft follows a pre-programmed flight plan — takeoff, cruise, waypoints, landing — with no pilot input required.
Waypoint Missions
Plan missions in QGroundControl or Mission Planner. Define takeoff location, cruise altitude, waypoints, loiter points, and landing coordinates. Upload the mission to the flight controller over USB or telemetry link.
In AUTO mode, the Stork executes the mission end-to-end: VTOL takeoff, transition, cruise through waypoints, transition back, and precision VTOL landing.
Open Source
ArduPilot is open-source software with an active global community. Firmware updates, bug fixes, and new features are continuously developed and freely available.
The Stork ships with ArduPlane configured for its specific airframe — PID tuning, QuadPlane parameters, failsafe thresholds, and servo mappings are all pre-set and flight-tested.