Installing QGroundControl on Ubuntu ARM64 using Flatpak

This tutorial will guide you through the process of installing QGroundControl (QGC) on Ubuntu ARM64 platforms using Flatpak. QGroundControl is an open-source ground control station for small unmanned vehicles that allows you to plan and execute autonomous missions.

Prerequisites

• Ubuntu ARM64 system (e.g., Raspberry Pi 4, Jetson Nano).
• Internet connection.
• Basic familiarity with the terminal.

Step 1: Install Flatpak 1.12.4

1. Open a terminal on your Ubuntu ARM64 system.
2. Run the following commands to install Flatpak 1.12.4:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:alexlarsson/flatpak
sudo apt update
sudo apt install flatpak

Step 2: Add Flathub and thopiekar.eu Repositories

1. Add the Flathub repository:

flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

2. Add the thopiekar.eu repository:

flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists thopiekar.eu https://dl.thopiekar.eu/flatpak/_.flatpakrepo

Step 3: Install QGroundControl

1. Install the KDE runtime:

flatpak install flathub org.kde.Platform/aarch64/5.15-21.08

2. Install QGroundControl:

flatpak install thopiekar.eu org.mavlink.qgroundcontrol

Step 4: Run QGroundControl

After installation, you can run QGroundControl using the following command:

flatpak run --device=all org.mavlink.qgroundcontrol

The --device=all option is required for accessing devices like serial ports.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed QGroundControl on your Ubuntu ARM64 system using Flatpak. You can now use QGroundControl to plan and execute missions for your unmanned vehicles.

Notes

If you encounter any issues during installation, make sure your system meets the prerequisites and that you have a stable internet connection. QGroundControl may require access to various devices on your system, such as serial ports. Ensure that you grant necessary permissions when prompted.

Additional Notes

• This repository provides a solution for users seeking QGroundControl support specifically tailored to ARM64 architecture.
• The provided solution has been tested and verified on Raspberry Pi 4, Raspberry Pi 3, Ubuntu 16.04, 18.04, and 20.04, as well as Nvidia Jetson Nano ARM64 series hardware.

Issue with Pre-compiled Builds

If you encounter the error message bash: ./QGroundControl.AppImage: cannot execute binary file: Exec format error, it's because the pre-compiled Linux build is intended for x86-64 platforms and won’t run on ARM systems.

To address this issue:

• On ARM-based systems such as Jetson Nano, you'll need to compile QGroundControl from source to run it successfully.
• Alternatively, you can follow the tutorial provided in this repository for step-by-step instructions on installing QGroundControl on ARM64 platforms using Flatpak.