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Setup Wizard

The Setup Wizard at https://rotorlab.app/wizard is the fastest way to go from nothing to a working build. It walks the essential inputs in logical stages, computes the headline numbers at the end, and saves the result straight into your library. Open it with the Wizard button in the Builder's page bar, or visit the page directly.

Use the wizard for a first pass. It deliberately keeps to one flight pack and a single payload mass; avionics packs, itemized catalog components, and extra power rails are added afterward in the Builder.

The steps#

A row of numbered dots across the top shows where you are; completed steps show a check mark. Move with the Back and Next buttons. On the last step, Next becomes Finish.

  1. Airframe. Pick the frame class from the Airframe type dropdown, then enter Dry mass, Arm length (hub to motor), Motors, and the Coaxial (stacked) switch. Picking a type sets the flight model and a default motor count, which you can adjust. See Airframe types.
  2. Propulsion. Prop diameter, Prop pitch, Blades, Motor KV, and Max thrust per motor. The step's own guidance says it plainly: a measured max thrust makes thrust-to-weight trustworthy. Enter a measured or datasheet value in grams; leaving it at 0 makes the tool estimate thrust and mark dependent figures as estimates.
  3. Battery & ESC. One flight pack to start: Pack name, Chemistry (liion or lipo), Cells (S), Capacity in mAh, Pack mass, C continuous, C burst, plus the ESC current per motor rating. Add avionics packs and extra buses later in the main editor.
  4. Payload. A single Payload mass in grams for mounts, wiring, and sensors. Itemized parts from the payload catalog live in the main editor.
  5. Mission & environment. Site altitude, Site temperature, and the Flat-plate drag area f that drives cruise power, range, and top speed. When the airframe type is VTOL transition, this step also collects the wing inputs: Airfoil arm chord, Wing CL max, Wing profile Cd0, Wing span efficiency e, and Cruise prop efficiency.
  6. Review & save. The wizard runs the analysis and shows the headline numbers as stat cards: all-up weight, thrust-to-weight, hover endurance, cruise endurance, hover current, and max speed. A VTOL transition build adds its stall and transition speed and its range.

Every field carries a ? badge with a short note, the same as the Builder console.

Finishing#

On the review step, name the build (the name is prefilled from the airframe type, for example "Quad X build") and press Finish. The wizard saves the build to your library with the note "Created with the setup wizard", then opens the Builder with the build loaded, where you can add avionics packs, payload components, and power rails.

If the build cannot be saved, the error appears on the review card and nothing is lost; fix the name and finish again. If the preview analysis cannot be computed, the wizard says so and still lets you save.