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Turn your entire PC into a flight control system with this free Windows 7 program

Turn your entire PC into a flight control system with this free Windows 7 program

Vote: (9 votes)

Program license: Free

Developer: seriouslypro

Works under: Windows

Vote:

Program license

(9 votes)

Free

Developer

seriouslypro

Works under:

Windows

Pros

  • Freeware
  • Advanced set of tools
  • Built-in documentation

Cons

  • Clunky interface

Dial in your FPV flight controller with the help of Cleanflight Configurator.

Video piloting has taken the radio control hobby by storm. The hobby is bigger than ever, and many people are piloting and racing drones and other aerial vehicles. These vehicles tend to have numerous settings, which need to be within certain parameters just so they’ll fly well, and experienced operators can dial them in based on their preferences, tendencies, environment and so forth.

The usual way to adjust these settings is to connect your flight controller to a PC via USB or another connection. You can then access it like a device and change any setting that it supports. Of course, it helps to have a graphical user interface, and that’s where a program like Cleanflight Configurator comes in. Cleanflight is freeware, so you can download and use it at no charge and without obligation.

Cleanflight Configurator provides an advanced array of tools. The categories include setup, ports, configuration, PID tuning, receiver, modes, adjustments, servos and so on and so forth. There are 15 such categories altogether, and clicking on any of them will bring you to a dedicated page of not just settings you can change but visual representation of the various feedback that your aircraft provides.

You can monitor the various sensors on your craft, which is great for troubleshooting. You can set maximum and minimum throttles, which is useful for competitions or when conforming to local regulations. If your drone has LED lights, you can turn them on and off individually, dictate colors, set patterns, define triggers and much more.

Cleanflight Configurator also has a built-in documentation section. This section includes help files, tutorials and other resources. Although this resource is not as extensive as we’d like, it does provide a good starting point for beginners. However, intermediate and advanced users who need assistance will probably have to look beyond the built-in resources to the community at large.

Another issue with Cleanflight Configurator is its user interface. This is after all a UI for flight controllers, and so it should shine in that department, but it really doesn’t. The UI isn’t bad by any stretch, but it could’ve been developed by a computer and perhaps was. A left menu features a long list of categories that provide you access to page after page of controls. It’s not bad once you know your way around, but you’ll waste time on more than one occasion as you become accustomed to the layout.

Pros

  • Freeware
  • Advanced set of tools
  • Built-in documentation

Cons

  • Clunky interface