OSS + ELC EU 2026

Is it a multicopter? Is it a fixed-wing? Not quite: It is a quantum superposition of both, and only upon flipping the transition switch we can observe the VTOL state with certainty.

VTOL vehicles bridge the design space between either pure vehicle type and enable long, efficient flights combined with accurate and soft landings. However, they challenge our software engineering and architecture skills, and properly supporting all VTOL vehicles in PX4 is quite the balancing act.

In this talk, we will go over the architecture and implementation decisions that connect those two vehicle types within a running system. We will visit some VTOL specific features and see where they slot in, and finally we will conclude with possible paths for further improving VTOL support in PX4.